US pumps cash into prisons as Iraq crumbles (NZ Herald)

[Starfury]

The only extra US funding for Iraq next year will be for new prisons, officials have revealed, as America continues to cut federal money for reconstruction.

State Department co-ordinator James Jeffrey said he would ask Congress for US$100 million ($151 million) extra for prisons, but it would be the only request for additional funds in 2006 and 2007 as the US winds down its US$20 billion ($30.2 billion) reconstruction scheme.

"This is the one bit of construction we will be doing - US$100 million for additional bed capacity for the Iraqi legal system," he said.

Early reconstruction programmes put much focus on giant electricity and water projects. Many of those were later scaled back and funds diverted to training Iraq's security forces to tackle the insurgency.

(...)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=340&ObjectID=10370679

$100bn for prisons, not a single penny for anything else. I guess we can now officially place the Iraq reconstruction effort in the "Mission Accomplished" category.

:argh:

[NYC]

1. From Riverbend in Baghdad:

Monday, February 27, 2006

Volatile Days...
The last few days have been unsettlingly violent in spite of the curfew. We’ve been at home simply waiting it out and hoping for the best. The phone wasn’t working and the electrical situation hasn’t improved. We are at a point, however, where things like electricity, telephones and fuel seem like minor worries. Even complaining about them is a luxury Iraqis can’t afford these days.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

[Hissyspit]

2. kick - again, have to go to New Zealand to get real news n/t

[MountainLaurel]

3. Isn't that the most incredible shit?

Shame on the MSM in the U.S.

[ooglymoogly]

4. they need more iron bunk beds to hang prisoners from

[formercia]

5. spreading democracy

just like the US with the highest per capita prison population.

Prisons are big business in the US.