Inspector General Details Failures of Iraq Reconstruction

[maddezmom]

Source: Washington Post

Inspector General Details Failures of Iraq Reconstruction

By Dana Hedgpeth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 22, 2007; Page A18

The U.S. government was unprepared for the extensive nation-building required after it invaded Iraq, and at each juncture where it could have adjusted its efforts, it failed even to understand the problems it faced, according to the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

In a stinging, wide-ranging assessment of U.S. reconstruction efforts, Stuart W. Bowen Jr. said that in the days after the invasion, the Defense Department had no strategy for restoring either government institutions or infrastructure. And in the years since, other agencies joined the effort without an overall plan and without a structure in place to organize and execute a task of such magnitude.

Lines of authority remained unclear in the reconstruction effort. With a demand for speed and a shortage of government personnel, much of the oversight was turned over to the contractors doing the work. There was little coordination among the various agencies. The result was a series of missed opportunities to address the unraveling situation, Bowen said.

"Many layers of management . . . made it difficult to determine who had ultimate authority over money, people and projects," he said.

Bowen, who briefed reporters yesterday, plans to present his report today to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032102418.html

[Erika]

1. W invaded and destroyed without knowing what he was doing

or where it was going. My God, what a total screw up to lay on the backs of the American people for his ignorance and arrogance.

[pinto]

2. Great article. And telling.

"Many layers of management . . . made it difficult to determine who had ultimate authority over money, people and projects," he said.


Bushco managed to drain our Treasury, allow wholesale corruption under the initial CPA, the dissolution and literal dismemberment of Iraq.

[swag]

3. Bloomberg story on same item:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aC0x8pSoQago&refer=home

[cassiepriam]

4. W didn't care about anything but the oil. As long as he has that, Mission Accomplished.