Construction of Iraq hospital touted by Laura Bush: "PUT ON HOLD"

[Bluebear]

"But, but, but, the liberal media doesn't show all the HOSPITALS and CHURCHES we are building!" :sarcasm:


BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Construction of a children's hospital supported by first lady Laura Bush has been put on hold after it fell behind schedule and went over budget, one of dozens of halted or delayed U.S. health projects, Iraqi health officials said Friday. The high-tech, two-story children's hospital in Basra was intended to provide state-of-the-art care in Iraq's second-largest city. The first lady and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke highly of the project.

But U.S. officials dropped contractor Bechtel Corp. from the project after it missed deadlines and ran up big cost overruns, Dr. Chasib Latif Ali, executive director of the Health Ministry, told The Associated Press. Bechtel Corp. blamed the problem on Iraq's security crisis...

Ali said the Basra hospital was just one example of health projects that the U.S. had promised but failed to deliver. "The Americans have made a lot of promises to us, but not even 10 percent of them have materialized," Ali said. He said that, of nearly 180 medical facilities promised by the U.S., contracts were awarded for 142. Only six have been completed and turned over to the Iraqis and those "are not even fully complete."

"This comes as a sharp contrast to the Japanese," Ali said. "They have promised and delivered 13 hospitals around the country, including three cutting-edge cancer centers. The Japanese have been very faithful to us, unfortunately, the Americans aren't like that."



http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5980947,00.html

[rubberducky]

1. Oh, Great!!

The Japanese can do it but, the US can`t! I had always thought this was the greatest nation on earth, but with the stupidist leader in the world what can anyone expect of us?? That idiot has thrown away so much money on Iraq and so many lives lost and what do we have to show for it?? NOTHING

[Erika]

2. Oh, Bush corporate donors have never received so much

No, we have nothing, but that was never W's concern.

[rubberducky]

4. What a damn , dirty, stinking shame!!

[Bluebear]

8. .

[Carla in Ca]

3. So utterly and completely shameful

Another disgusting example of how this WH can't get the job done. They are truly pathetic. I'm sure we will not hear any mention of this again, as with so many other promises. Just pathetic.

[magellan]

5. I'll bet the Japanese haven't "lost" $billions in taxpayers' money either

Astonishing what a little efficiency and a few contractors who aren't on the take can accomplish!

[patdem]

6. In a little noticed and NON PUBLICIZED oversight hearing by DEMS only

they investigated about the hospital/health problems in Iraq and I was APALLED...one of the members was so absolutely disgusted he said the lack of oversight was criminal neglect.

It was on C-Span late at night...It was quite informative.

[Bluebear]

7. Thank you!

And why does it not surprise me that it was on late at night?