Iraq rebuilding slows as U.S. money for projects dries up

[Barrett808]

Iraq rebuilding slows as U.S. money for projects dries up
By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
Mon Oct 10, 7:33 AM ET

On paper, the Iraqi Army barracks was a gleaming example of the future

Iraq. The plans called for a two-story, air-conditioned barracks housing 850 soldiers, a movie theater, classrooms, basketball courts, a shooting range, even an officer's club.

But when the $10 million project in southern Iraq is finished this month, it will fall far short of those ambitious plans. The theater, classrooms, officer's club, basketball courts and shooting range have all been scrapped. The barracks will be one story instead of two.

The reason for scaling back the barracks? The U.S. government is running out of money. The higher than expected cost of protecting workers against insurgent attacks - about 25 cents of every reconstruction dollar now pays for security - has sent the cost of projects skyward.

The result: Some projects have been eliminated and others cut back.

"American money has dried up," says Brent Rose, chief of program/project management for the Army Corps of Engineers in southern Iraq.

And tracking the billions of dollars that flooded into a war zone in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion has proved difficult, too. Nearly $100 million in reconstruction money is unaccounted for.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051010/ts_usatoday/iraqrebuildingslowsasusmoneyforprojectsdriesup

[underpants]

1. "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."

Something like that.

[rodeodance]

2. and NO one is accountable for the missing millions/billions

.......And tracking the billions of dollars that flooded into a war zone in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion has proved difficult, too. Nearly $100 million in reconstruction money is unaccounted for.

[Massachusetts]

7. Excellent Point

[okieinpain]

3. Why isn't this the top news story. how could we be running out of

money when we've doled out close to a quarter of a trillion dollars. if this is true then yes we need to pull the troops out immediately, so the money that is going to them to get their legs and arms blown off can go to completing this screw up.

Man this white house crew is the worst thing to ever happen to this country.

[Barrett808]

4. The new defense appropriation bill adds $40 billion, iirc

For Iraq and Afghanistan. A little of that will be earmarked for reconstruction. But far too little to make a difference.

[Mandate My Ass]

5. Bush should disburse that $600 fortune he drummed up

in private donations. That oughta take care of it. :eyes:

[Catchawave]

6. Doesn't Iraq have some money?

I mean all that oil :shrug:

[Barrett808]

8. They're pumping less now than before the invasion n/t

[Catchawave]

9. Really?

Interesting why Iraq oil "lack'o'pumping" interests may be connected to our high gas prices here?

'splain to Lucy :)

[Barrett808]

10. Yup:

Iraq oil output falls behind pre-war levels
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1841875

[Catchawave]

11. Thanks Barrett.....

Uhmmm, still wonder why?

[Javaman]

12. You will have nails but no hammers, paint but no brushes..

wood but no saws and doors with no hinges, any questions? okay let's build a barracks to be proud of!!!!

I maintain, this administration* acts like they never think anything through. It's the knee JERK administration*

colossal racist paranoid failure*.

[Disturbed]

13. $9 Billion missing then $ 1 Billion and now...

another $100 Million? Should Congress vote for another $40 Billion while $10 Billion has not be accounted for?

[TiredOfLies]

14. wasn't Iraqie oil supposed

pay for everthing??the wells are up and running but where is the money and who is getting the oil?