USA Today: Iraq rebuilding slows as U.S. money for projects dries up

The U.S. government is running out of money. The higher than expected cost of protecting workers against insurgent attacks — about 25 cents of every reconstruction dollar now pays for security — has sent the cost of projects skyward.

It’s worth reading the whole article to gain the full pungent flavour of why some people should be sitting in jail cells and not in Oval Offices and Downing Streets.

“Nearly $100 million in reconstruction money is unaccounted for.”

“The Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works initially planned to use U.S. funds for 81 much-needed water and sewage treatment projects across the country, says Humam Misconi, a ministry official. That list has dwindled to 13.”

“Congress appropriated $18.4 billion for Iraq reconstruction in November 2003, but last year nearly $5 billion of it was diverted to help train and equip Iraq’s security forces as the insurgency grew in strength.”

“Nearly half of all of Iraqi households still don’t have access to clean water, and only 8% of the country, excluding the capital, is connected to sewage networks.”

Where did the money go?

Yahoo News: Ex-Iraqi Officials Sought in $1B Theft

Those accused include four other ministers from Allawi’s government, which was replaced by an elected Cabinet led by Shiite parties in April, said Ali al-Lami of Iraq’s Integrity Commission. Many of the officials are believed to have left Iraq, including Hazem Shaalan, the former defense minister who moved to Jordan shortly after the new government was installed.

Well, who were we to deny these guys a retirement fund? Bless them. A billion sheets was a small price for all their hard work.

Posted on October 11th, 2005 at 11:25 am

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