Bush ending funding for Iraq Reconstruction!! Unbelievable.

[beachmom]

So Mr. Drunken Sailor decides to go on the cheap for the war, by ending one part of it -- reconstruction money. I would like to know what JK's reaction to this is since in the past he has stated that reconstruction is one of the 4 things that need to be done in Iraq, or else we will not have success in Iraq. Here's the irony for me: I think we should be providing this money even AFTER we leave Iraq. But short sighted * is ending the one thing that showed good will toward the Iraqis. Just when you think things won't get worse for Iraq, it does.

Here's the info (hat tip: www.andrewsullivan.com):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/02/AR2006010200370.html

BAGHDAD -- The Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction in the budget request going before Congress in February, officials say. The decision signals the winding down of an $18.4 billion U.S. rebuilding effort in which roughly half of the money was eaten away by the insurgency, a buildup of Iraq's criminal justice system and the investigation and trial of Saddam Hussein.

Just under 20 percent of the reconstruction package remains unallocated. When the last of the $18.4 billion is spent, U.S. officials in Baghdad have made clear, other foreign donors and the fledgling Iraqi government will have to take up what authorities say is tens of billions of dollars of work yet to be done merely to bring reliable electricity, water and other services to Iraq's 26 million people.

"The U.S. never intended to completely rebuild Iraq," Brig. Gen. William McCoy, the Army Corps of Engineers commander overseeing the work, told reporters at a recent news conference. In an interview this past week, McCoy said: "This was just supposed to be a jump-start."

snip

At the same time, the hundreds of Americans and Iraqis who have devoted themselves to the reconstruction effort point to 3,600 projects that the United States has completed or intends to finish before the $18.4 billion runs out around the end of 2006. These include work on 900 schools, construction of hospitals and nearly 160 health care centers and clinics, and repairs on or construction of nearly 800 miles of highways, city streets and village roads.

But the insurgency has set back efforts across the board. In two of the most crucial areas, electricity and oil production, relentless sabotage has kept output at or below prewar levels despite the expenditure of hundreds of millions of American dollars and countless man-hours. Oil production stands at roughly 2 million barrels a day, compared with 2.6 million before U.S. troops entered Iraq in March 2003, according to U.S. government statistics.

The national electrical grid has an average daily output of 4,000 megawatts, about 400 megawatts less than its prewar level.

Iraqis nationwide receive on average less than 12 hours of power a day. For residents of Baghdad, it was six hours a day last month, according to a U.S. count, though many residents say that figure is high.

The Americans, said Zaid Saleem, 26, who works at a market in Baghdad, "are the best in destroying things but they are the worst in rebuilding."

On the parts I bolded:

Actually, I kind of got the impression that either we or proceeds from the oil were going to completely rebuild Iraq.

Notice how the infrastructure was actually in better shape under Saddam Hussein AND sanctions. I mean, if those lights were on all the time, maybe the war would end. I'm really serious.

I am sad to agree with the young Iraqi, although not about all Americans, but about the * administration -- they only know how to destroy, not build.

Finally, I think New Orleans should take note of what is happening in Iraq, and realize they're going to have to scream and yell and even hire lobbyists to keep reconstruction going there. And they don't even have an insurgency.

[karynnj]

1. so, this is our reputation

The Americans, said Zaid Saleem, 26, who works at a market in Baghdad, "are the best in destroying things but they are the worst in rebuilding."

What hurts is that an American I know well has gone to Iraq many many times working to help the Iraqis rebuild. Although he is a liberal Democrat, his wife mentioned he did think of voting for Bush - because (until the debates) he wasn't convinced that Kerry would continue the reconstruction. (amazing knowing that one of these men's word is worth something)

In talking to friends and family, he spoke of how the combination of the sanctions and the war had destroyed the live work of many scientists. When he returned for his second trip, many Iraqis were surprised that he came back - he is a former peace core person who genuinely felt that fixing things was the only way to make the area better. (What is strange is that his views on this may be closer to the man he reluctantly voted for than for all the Democrats who he is completely in awe of.)

[beachmom]

2. A lot of Americans have gone there and done good work

They have even forged good relationships with Iraqis. That's why I get annoyed with people from either side of the war debate, trying to make it a black and white issue. Like most things involving humans, it is complex with shades of grey.

I was glad that they reported the wattage for electricity. I hadn't heard hard statistics on it for a while, and didn't want to assume that the situation was still bad, but, alas, it is.

Kerry says that we only win in Iraq with a political solution. Part of that includes rebuilding Iraq. If we had any credibility left, it will be gone now.

[karynnj]

3. I agree with you 100%, I hope this changes

or that Bush will realize that he "misspoke" - cause he can't change his mind. I wonder if this means he intends to cut and run (in his own words). They clearly (judging from Kerry's questions to Rice) haven't done the necessary diplomacy and Bush disputes Kerry's view that we should have enough trained Iraqis for them to do the policing so they clearing haven't attained the level of security needed. So, using Kerry's initial 4 things that needed to be done they did one - have elections. Which may or may not be fraudulent.

But Bush will leave and call it a success.