U.S. Pulls Plug on Iraqi Reconstruction, Press Yawns

[kpete]

U.S. Pulls Plug on Iraqi Reconstruction, Press Yawns
Gal Beckerman


USA Today is the only paper to lead today with what, in our estimation, is pretty big news.
http://www.cjrdaily.org/politics/us_pulls_plug_on_iraqi_reconst.php

Costs to rebuild shifting to Iraqis
$21 billion U.S. effort to end short of goals
By Thomas Frank
USA TODAY

BAGHDAD — The head of the U.S. program to rebuild Iraq said Thursday that the Iraqi government can no longer count on U.S. funds and must rely on its own money and cash from other Persian Gulf nations to complete the massive undertaking.

“The Iraqi government needs to build up its capability to do its own capital budget investment,” Daniel Speckhard, director of the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office, told reporters.

Speckhard's remarks signal the unwinding of an extensive rebuilding campaign intended to stabilize Iraq and neutralize insurgents after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The $21 billion U.S.-funded program set out to fix or build schools, roads, clinics, ports, bridges, government offices, phone networks, power plants and water systems.

The program also was to train Iraqis in accounting, farming, teaching, nursing, banking and other areas.

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060324/1a_offlede24.art.htm

[BR_Parkway]

1. $21,000,000,000 - how much for Katrina again? Or Soc Security?

or funding the US schools?

[Roland99]

2. So, no more reconstruction. What good news *could* there be in Iraq?

[MadMaddie]

3. Well....the good news is that the Iraqis are standing up

and we are standing down....:sarcasm:

Iraq is in shambles with no money to rebuild...Afghanistan is returning to a mess....

[oneighty]

5. They will be shed

of the invaders. Then they will raise the price of oil and all the world will pay. And they will build a nuclear industry.

180

[fooj]

4. There IS no good news in Iraq. Period.

Peace.