US-built projects (in Afghanistan) crumbling

[unhappycamper]

US-built projects crumbling
Washington Post / January 4, 2011

WASHINGTON — Roads, canals and schools built in Afghanistan as part of a special US military program are crumbling under Afghan stewardship, despite new steps imposed over the past year to ensure reconstruction money is not being wasted, according to government reports and interviews with military and civilian personnel.

US troops in Afghanistan have spent $2 billion in the past six years on 16,000 humanitarian projects through the Commander’s Emergency Response Program which gives a battalion-level commander the power to treat aid dollars as ammunition.

A report slated for release this month reveals how quickly such projects can slide into neglect after being transferred to Afghan control. The Afghans had problems maintaining about half of the 69 projects reviewed in Laghman province, according to an audit by the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction.

Dilapidated projects could present a challenge to the US strategy of shifting more responsibility to Afghans. Investing in infrastructure, notes President Obama’s December review of the war, “will give the Afghan government and people the tools to build and sustain a future of stability.’’

“Sustainment is one of the biggest issues with our whole strategy,’’ said a civilian official who shared details from a draft of the report. “The Afghans don’t have the money or capacity to sustain much.’’

[DrDan]

1. "The Afghans don’t have the money or capacity to sustain much" - and we do?

[gratuitous]

5. In six years, we've spent $2 billion on these projects

I'll be the first to say that $2 billion is a lot of money. But it's pretty small potatoes next to the total expenditures in Afghanistan, and it's money poured down the drain if there isn't a parallel commitment to continue the project once it's started. It's a cinch that local folks don't have the money or the manpower to keep some multi-million dollar project going; they're mostly invested in simple survival, and our continuing military campaigns don't give them much down time to develop the skills or spare the hands required to maintain things.

But here in the land of the High Church of Redemptive Violence, we know about blowing stuff up. We're less knowledgeable about building things anymore.

[prodigals0n]

2. Same thing happened in Iraq and it wasn't Iraq's fault at all

The "humanitarian projects" in Iraq crumbled under the weight of their own shoddy materials and construction -- all due to the incompetence of the U.S. military that built them.

Billions more wasted on unnecessary projects in an unnecessary war while we're told here at home that we can't afford "entitlements".

Do you know why they're called entitlements? BECAUSE WE ARE ENTITLED TO THEM.

[surrealAmerican]

3. Was it the military who built these projects ...

... or was it "private contractors"? I agree that they were poorly constructed to begin with if they are crumbling so fast.

[prodigals0n]

4. If it was "private contractors" then it was the military

Because, IMO, "private contractor" has become a U.S. military euphemism for mercenaries.