Years after invasion, U.S. officials struggling to accelerate Iraqi recons

[sabra]

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http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=00D80761-CE2A-41C5-A06B-6B894C688D59

Years after invasion, U.S. officials struggling to accelerate Iraqi reconstruction

By ANTONIO CASTANEDA
Associated Press Writer

* EDITOR'S NOTE: Associated Press correspondent Antonio Castaneda spent a week in southern Iraq reporting on reconstruction projects in an area of the country largely unaffected by the insurgency. *


BASRA, Iraq -- The United States has yet to spend almost 60 percent of its pledged $21 billion in reconstruction money for Iraq, even as the country struggles through a third summer of sporadic electricity and limited clean water.

Many schools have been built, water plants started and power stations finished -- especially here in the relatively peaceful south. But frustration is high.

Iraqis in the south look with envy at the Green Zone in Baghdad, with its air conditioning and hundreds of soldiers and police for security, while they don't have water, engineer Haider Albalhary told U.S. officials visiting his project site last week.

"Six months ago with no electricity, we said OK," Albalhary said. "One year, two years, now three years -- enough ... My friend, three years is a long time."

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[ClintonTyree]

1. Helliburton can't steal it that fast...........

the administration is going to have to devise a plan for Helliburton to steal the money faster. That's all there is to it! :shrug:
It's tough stealing money from the government that fast. All of those suitcases full of cash, all of those bank deposit slips! And the government has to be notified of any transaction over $10,000. Think of the number of $9,999 deposits have to be made?

I have full faith that the bush administration can come up with a way for Cheney's boys to steal it faster though. Perhaps direct deposit? But then there's that nasty paper trail. Oh well, the bush administration is up to the task, I'm sure.