Security Costs Sap Iraq's Rebuilding Funds

[tocqueville]

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
18 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - A tenuous security environment in Iraq has hindered reconstruction efforts there, with crude oil production and power generation still not reaching prewar levels of 2003 as of May, a report released Thursday found.

The Government Accountability Office also said $1.8 billion intended for major electricity and water projects during the 2004 fiscal year had to be shifted to cover urgent security and law enforcement needs.

In a separate report, the agency said the United States missed some reconstruction and economic objectives in Afghanistan during that same period because of security problems and the illicit drug industry.

"Deteriorating security in some regions rendered large areas effectively inaccessible to the assistance community; despite efforts by U.S., Afghan, and international forces, attacks against aid workers, Afghan security forces, and international forces increased," the report said. "Further, a continued rise in opium production undermined legitimate economic activities and the establishment of the rule of law."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050728/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/wars_reconstruction