More $UCCE$$ in Iraq: 20 out of 142 clinics finished (the money's GONE)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

U.S. plan to build Iraq clinics falters
Contractor will try to finish 20 of 142 sites

By Ellen Knickmeyer
The Washington Post
Updated: 10:38 p.m. ET April 2, 2006

BAGHDAD - A reconstruction contract for the building of 142 primary health centers across Iraq has run out of money, after two years and roughly $200 million, with no more than 20 clinics now expected to be completed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says. The contract, awarded to U.S. construction giant Parsons Inc. in the flush, early days of reconstruction in Iraq, was expected to lay the foundation of a modern health care system for the country, putting quality medical care within reach of all Iraqis.

Parsons, according to the Corps, will walk away from more than 120 clinics that on average are two-thirds finished. Auditors say its failure serves as a warning for other U.S. reconstruction efforts due to be completed this year.

Brig. Gen. William McCoy, the Army Corps commander overseeing reconstruction in Iraq, said he still hoped to complete all 142 clinics as promised and was seeking emergency funds from the U.S. military and foreign donors. "I'm fairly confident," McCoy said.

Coming with little public warning, the 86 percent shortfall of completions dismayed the World Health Organization's representative for Iraq. "That's not good. That's shocking," Naeema al-Gasseer said by telephone from Cairo. "We're not sending the right message here. That's affecting people's expectations and people's trust, I must say."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12125835/

[Erika]

1. Third post within a half hour on the same topic

Why can't they all be combined?