Attacks cost Iraq oil exports $16B

[Barrett808]

Attacks cost Iraq oil exports $16B
By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Iraq's most important moneymaker — its oil industry — lost $16 billion in potential foreign sales over two years to insurgent attacks, criminals and bad equipment, a secret U.S. audit says.

The Baghdad government "must take bold action" to protect its oil and electrical facilities, concludes an unclassified summary of the classified audit on Iraq's energy sector.

"Iraq cannot prosper without uninterrupted export of oil and the reliable delivery of electricity," Stuart W. Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, said in the summary released Thursday.

In another report, Bowen said sewage drips through the ceilings of a newly constructed building at the Baghdad Police College because of poor construction and the use of inferior plumbing materials.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060928/ap_on_go_ot/us_iraq_reconstruction

[indepat]

1. Trillions of dollars the eventual cost of this venture, not to mention

countless deaths and maimings, destruction of Iraq's infrastructure, homes, jobs, standard of living, medical facilities and services. What the hell, such a small price to pay to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them over here where our infrastructure rots, the environment is despoiled, and the job market, standard of living and value of the dollar have substantially eroded. But such small prices to pay to be made safe.