After 3 years and $20 Billion, much of the reconstruction remains undone....according to a Morning edition newscast this morning.
This money has been completely squandered, much lost to corruption of international contractors.
There is now <4 hours per day of electricity in Baghdad. In much of Iraq fresh water is lacking.
And now Bush wants to cut funding for reconstruction altogether. We are giving up on the fact that we hold some responsibility for cleaning up after our own mess.
http://www.npr.org/...
Yet, if the money continues going to Iraq, will the corruption continue without oversight? There is a huge feedback on our politics if so. These contractors can fund congressional reelections with their ridiculous profits. Additionally, the contractors cause problems in Iraq itself....they have to hire mercenary security firms...and they represent us with their actions. Other problems include the fact that contractors subcontract from places like Somalia, and why wouldn't Al Qaida infiltrate the contractors?
In my view we clearly should be sending grants to existing Iraqi businesses to get the job done, rather than cutting the budget altogether.
I would love to hear your thoughts.