U.S. Plans to Restore Iraq's Electricity (By End Of Sept)

[Khephra]

By Associated Press

August 23, 2003, 9:32 AM EDT


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi Governing Council has voiced frustration about the U.S.-led coalition's inability to restore electricity to prewar levels, and the Americans have set a deadline for doing that, the U.S. administrator for Iraq said Saturday.

"They share our frustration with not being able to restore essential services to prewar levels," L. Paul Bremer said. He added that the Americans planned to get electricity fully restored by the end of September.

Bremer, who created the 25-member Governing Council as an interim government, also said he had encouraged the body to reach out to the Iraqi people to join in the reconstruction and security of their country.

There have been a number of reports recently that Bremer and his creation, the governing council, are increasingly at odds.

MORE..............

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-bremer,0,6765606.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

So how do you expect the Iraqis to react when the U.S. breaks yet another promise to them? Yeah, that's what I thought too.

[heidiho]

1. Why are we taking the glory for restoration of services

that they had in the first place, before we invaded and occupied them.
Paul Bremer was on TV this morning praising US troops for restoration of power, water and school and hospital rebuilding.
They wouldn't need to do that had we not bombed them into "shock and awe".
Why won't someone say "It was our bombing that did this".

[rock]

2. What year?

OK, it's an old joke; but then, so am I.

[starroute]

3. Bremer and the governing council at odds?

That's really interesting. The council members aren't all like Chalabi -- some of them actually do represent elements of the Iraqi people, and seem to have accepted seats on the council in the hope that they could do some good there.

If the council falls apart, there will be no one left for the US to call upon for any pretense at legitimacy. I can't even begin to imagine how that will play out.

This whole situation is beginning to look like a Greek tragedy, where one veil after another of pretense and denial is stripped away, until all that is left is the bare bones of truth.

[ScrewyRabbit]

4. They'll restore it until...

...the Iraqi resistance blows it up transformers with truck bombs.

[Mal]

5. Yeah. I really like the way

you lot keep on rebuilding that oil pipline. 2 weeks to put out the fire and fix it, 2 minutes to blow it up again.
It's funny.

[laconicsax]

6. Methinks

That any of the various organized resistance groups would leave the power on, less they damage support for their cause--they have a good deal going right now:

-US bombs the shit out of Iraq and destroys its electricity, water, etc.
-Iraqis are mad at US for destroying the afore mentioned services and not restoring them yet. Angered Iraqis begin resistance.

If the US restores power, some of the animosity will decrease. If Iraqi resistance destroys the power, then they--not the US will lose any support of the general public (of Iraq).

[2cents]

7. OK, where's Kenny Boy

I smell Enron.

I was wondering when he'd get a piece of the action.

[Jacobin]

8. And in other lies.....

All American troops will be home by Christmas right after the elections in Iraq.

[PurityOfEssence]

10. I like that bumper phrase

Sorta reminds me of the title of Linda Obst's memoir: "Hello, He Lied"

[gristy]

9. Oh yeah, they'll have it done by September

unless, of course, those darn terists keep blowing up transformers and power-line towers. And if that happens, we won't know when the power will be back on. But IT WON'T BE OUR FAULT!

Watch.

[revcarol]

11. And in October, it will be a lot cooler so they won't NEED

all that electricity for air-conditioning,,,,,we will ignore such obvious needs as refrigeration of food and lights...<sarcasm>