Iraq reconstruction needs even more money

[Edward Copeland]

This is just starting to move from AP. This is all I have so far. When I get the full story, I'll link to it on my blog:

WASHINGTON (AP) — It will take far more U.S. support before the Iraqi government can take control over billions of dollars in reconstruction projects, including problem-plagued oil and electricity improvements, according to a government report released Monday.
The report, prepared by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, warns that 2006 will be a critical year of transition in Iraq. And it questions whether the Iraqi government has the needed resources to rebuild and protect the infrastructure, develop the country’s major cities and support private sector projects.
“The need for more funding has reached a critical point; there is a compelling basis to increase support for sustainability,” Special Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen Jr., said in the report.
The report — the eighth quarterly assessment done by Bowen — makes no recommendations on how much money is needed. But recent audits, summarized in this report, have said that billions of dollars in projects to improve water, sewer and electrical systems in Iraq could not be completed because the money was diverted to security and other higher priorities.

[Double T]

1. We don't even have funds to rebuild our own crumbling infrastructure....

for the other 50% or so that think bush is doing a good job, I would suggest you come out of your trance and just look around. The whole damn system is coming apart with no money to fix it. bush will be rebuilding Iraq long before he would even think about rebuilding his own damn country.

[Disturbed]

2. Can't the Neo Fascists find the $ 9 Billion....

that is still missing?

[tjwash]

3. Ironic that before I kicked this thread, it was right underneath...

...This one.

[Edward Copeland]

4. Full story is up now.

This is the other shoe from the previous stories about all that was squandered. They just released the full report at 5 p.m. Eastern time. I've got the story up now. It's the top item on my blog.

[long_green]

5. it wasn't squandered, it was stolen

it was given away by the government with the knowledge that the money was going into a friendly pocket.

[tjwash]

6. I wonder how much of those mega-billions they are spending...

...are actually what it is costing for the construction of the permanent US miltary bases there.

[durablend]

7. Dont'cha worry--George will fix it!

Couple more tax cuts, abolish Medicare and Social Security and we SHOULD have enough money for a couple more months.

After that we're fucked, but undoubtedly the democrats will take the blame for it.

[madmunchie]

8. There is plenty of money

It has all been given out to private companies with no bid contracts. Bush bot is going to bring some numbers (probably large enough to be impressive to many brain dead Americans) troops and replace them with private contractors making tens of thousands of dollars more in wages.

If the Government has no money for "Reconstruction", then how are they paying the hundreds to thousands of private contractors that are being shipped over every WEEK?

[Niche]

9. How about checking out some off-shore accounts...