Iraq Reconstruction Is Doomed, Ex-Chief of Global Fund Says

[maddezmom]

Source: New York Times

By IAN AUSTEN
Published: May 3, 2007
OTTAWA, May 2 — Reconstruction efforts in Iraq are largely doomed to failure, the former chairman of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq said Tuesday in an interview.


“Reconstruction is difficult enough in a relatively pacific environment,” said Michael Bell, a retired Canadian diplomat whose two-year term as chairman ended in March. “In this environment it is almost impossible, if not impossible. Over all, the picture is dire, dire.”

His assessment followed a report by inspectors from a United States federal oversight agency, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, that seven projects the United States had declared successes were no longer operating.

The United States has contributed to the fund, but the fund has mostly been supplied by the European Commission with contributions from Japan and Canada. It is operated by the World Bank and the United Nations.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/world/middleeast/03rebuild.html?ref=middleeast

[M155Y_A1CH]

1. Kickeroo

For the day-light crew :kick: