prominent Iraqi political scientist knows where the money went

[donsu]

http://www.counterpunch.com/laith01032006.html

An Interview with Dr. Saad Jawad
Iraqi Intellectuals and the Occupation


-snip-

Most of the money allocated for reconstruction, as is now well known, has either been looted or spent on the security of the American forces and personnel.

-snip-

The possibility of civil war does exist but it is very much a remote one.

-snip-

To my knowledge no Iraqi academic body was consulted for example in drafting the constitution. This ignorance was very obvious and clear.

-snip-

SJ: Iraqi intellectuals and scientists are targeted by many elements. the Israelis and the Americans are after one part of them. Iran and the sectarian parties are after some others. The Baathists liquidated some of their old comrades when they noticed that they were cooperating with the Americans, and the local mafias kidnapped and assassinated others after making them pay ransoms. The problem of security, or the lack of it, is the main reason why intellectuals have become such easy targets for any act. Yet, precisely because of the chaos, the systematized assassinations of Iraqi intellectuals have gone largely unnoticed in the outside world. Iraq is being drained of its most able thinkers, thus an important component to any true Iraqi independence is being eliminated.
-snip-
----------------------------------

the truth will out

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newyawker99]

3. Hi RehnL!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PATRICK]

2. Should rethink that civil war judgment

Iraq intellectuals may be wisely right, but they are being killed and sidelined. As is their wise opinion about civil war. If you are dead you might be wrong about being smart. Where do leaders come from in a devastated country? The military, the intelligentsia or the business world. ALL have been mucked up, leaving religious leaders(also embroiled, shot at, compromised, fanatical), warlords and demagogues of any variety at least on an equal footing with truly stabilizing wise leaders.

There will be no Simon Bolivar or G. Washington who will drive out the Americans. There will be no Shiite Ayatollah not dependent on Iran. That would leave perhaps Sadr with a big target on his back. No Havel, no Royal figurehead, no labor leader, no imprisoned hero of the masses, no uniting figure, no ethnic unifier of real worth for that matter. No new talent particularly immune to bullets. Just money weasels and conflicted agents like Chalabi, and politicians drowning in the puppet occupation government. The Mexican Revolution turmoil went on for decades and their ethnic splits were simpler.