The WaPo outlines some of the problems being faced in the reconstruction of Iraq, and it appears the chief problem is a lack of security:
Efforts to rebuild water, electricity and health networks in Iraq are being shortchanged by higher-than-expected costs to provide security and by generous financial awards to contractors, according to a series of reports by government investigators released yesterday.
Taken together, the reports seem to run contrary to the Bush administration’s upbeat assessment that reconstruction efforts are moving vigorously ahead and that the insurgency is dying down.
The United States, Iraq and international donors have committed more than $60 billion to run Iraq and revive its damaged infrastructure. But security costs are eating away a substantial share of that total, up to 36 percent on some projects, the Government Accountability Office reported yesterday. The higher security costs are causing reconstruction authorities to scale back efforts in some areas and abandon projects in others.
For instance, in March, the U.S. Agency for International Development canceled two electric power generation programs to provide $15 million in additional security elsewhere. On another project to rehabilitate electric substations, the Army Corps of Engineers decided that securing 14 of the 23 facilities would be too expensive and limited the entire project to nine stations. And in February, USAID added $33 million to cover higher security costs on one project, which left it short of money to pay for construction oversight, quality assurance and administrative costs.
That is a lot of money being wasted, and the evidence is the pace and scope of reconstruction:
Despite $5.7 billion committed to restoring electricity service in Iraq, power generation was still at lower levels as of May than it had been before the U.S. invasion in 2003. In one case, the GAO reported, the United States led an overhaul of an Iraqi power plant but then did not adequately train the Iraqis how to operate it. A widespread power outage resulted.
Crude oil production has also dropped in the past two years, even with more than $5 billion in U.S. and Iraqi funds available for rebuilding. Oil export revenue is needed to fund more than 90 percent of the nascent Iraqi government’s 2005 budget, the State Department has said.
Not good. Jim Henley had a round-up on the electricity production a while back, and I am already cranky today, so I don’t even want to discuss the oil production (or lack thereof).
This quote stuck out, but for different reasons:
“If we didn’t have a bunch of extremists running around trying to derail the progress of the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people and the coalition, the amount of money spent on security would be far less,” said Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman. “It is a fact of life, one which cannot be wished away.”
Yes. Extremists. We have noticed.
BinkyBoy
Its hard to get security out of the green zone where everything is safe. Maybe thats the strategy, remove our troops from sight so it appears we arn’t there.
Sojourner
Unfortunately, the green zone ain’t all that safe.
Steve
“We wouldn’t need so much security if it wasn’t for all the insurgents.” That’s not exactly a SomeCallMeTim-quality quote.
Larry
Ever try to rebuild DURING an earthquake?
Sojourner
Oh dear. The bar has been raised for what constitutes an acceptable post. It’s all your fault, SomeCallMeTim!
ppGaz
Thus spoke Lt. Col. Pangloss.
You know, if this war weren’t a giant Monkeyfuck With Bananas, it would be a really great success.
Doggone it, I gotta get that positive mojo working ……
SomeCallMeDick Cheney
If I didn’t have so many goddamn hemmeroids I wouldn’t need so much goddamn Preparation H.
BinkyBoy
If we’re getting ready to pull out we must have already won, right?
Or is this like the Christian Rhythm Method of birth control?
jg
Is the administration trying to say that the insurgency is messing with the reconstruction? The insurgency that everyone but the Bush boys knew would result from our invasion? Of course they’re going to sabotage the oil lines and electricity production facilities. It makes it a lot easier for the average Iraqi to start hating our asses. Hearts and minds.
Andrei
Two years into this thing and all I have to say is “no shit.”
I’m still waiting for the likes of Stormy, Defense Guy and some others to start signing up for the service to go take bullets to protect contractors who would make 4 to 6 times as much as them over in Iraq. I’m still waiting for these GOPers to put their money where their mouth is with regards to war and killing to sign up and serve for what they voted for.
I guess Powell was right back in 1991. You break it, you bought it.
Stormy70
Ahhh, the old discredited chickenhawk meme. Andrei pulls through again. Well, if you are anti-war, then you may not comment on the war. Moron.
Gone all day and the quality of comments have plummeted with the anti-christian, Chimpy references, throwing around of curse words, etc. All the bills being passed by Congress must have stirred all you guys up. Glad I worked all day.
Don Surber
Gazette Page One headline and subhead yesterday:
“Power grid operator asks users to conserve:
“West Virginia is not among states asked to use less power”
I read that and thought, damned straight. You ask this old boy with that John Amos plant in his backyard to conserve, and he is turning that thermostat down to 60 just to be contrary — and don’t think my AC cannot keep up
Our coal, our power plant, our decision
Stormy70
Texas has it’s own power grid, and I am quite cool, thank you very much.
Sojourner
Discredited only in the minds of chickenhawks.
Stormy70
Better a chickenhawk than a chickenshit. I guess you cannot comment on the war anymore because you are not in the military. See how childish this chickenhawk crap can get? Let me know when you want to move to the grown-ups’ table, until then I don’t think I will engage you or any other chickenhawk crying commenter. It has become like Godwin’s law. Whoever cries “chickenhawk” has run out of legitimate arguments, and should be ignored.
Sojourner
Um, what’s the difference?
Sorry but no. You’re quite happy that other people put their lives on the line while your party cuts their benefits and allows their familes (in the case of the National Guard) to go bankrupt. So I will continue to criticize those who put people in a situation they would never allow themselves to be in for a war that was based on lies.
The reason you’re so pissed is because it strikes a nerve. Oh well.