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July 04, 2004
Again, Iraq Reconstruction, criminally stupid incompetence
A rather sad and clear statement on the utter lack of seriousness that characterised the occupation to date:
U.S. Funds for Iraq Are Largely Unspent
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, July 4, 2004; Page A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26310-2004Jul3?language=printer
BAGHDAD, July 3 -- The U.S. government has spent 2 percent of an $18.4 billion aid package that Congress approved in October last year after the Bush administration called for a quick infusion of cash into Iraq to finance reconstruction, according to figures released Friday by the White House.
Well that is just fucking super.
(On the other hand, the slow pace of my steel project makes me feel better - not just us, they're just fucking incompetent)
But then there is this:
The U.S.-led occupation authorities were much quicker to channel Iraq's own money, expending or earmarking nearly all of &dol;20 billion in a special development fund fed by the country's oil sales, a congressional investigator said.
Only $366 million of the $18.4 billion U.S. aid package had been spent as of June 22, the White House budget office told Congress in a report that offers the first detailed accounting of the massive reconstruction package.
Well, have to dig into this, might have useful info for me, but else, super. Super. Super. Of course the usage of Iraqi money before US tax dollars is not precisely the best PR one can achieve.
Thus far, according to the report, nothing from the package has been spent on construction, health care, sanitation and water projects. More money has been spent on administration than all projects related to education, human rights, democracy and governance.
Surprise, surprise.
What can I say, if my experience with the Steel project is indicative (and from this one suspects that it is), then it's no fucking wonder they have spent nothing.
Of $3.2 billion earmarked for security and law enforcement, a key U.S. goal in Iraq, only $194 million has been spent. Another central objective of the aid program was to reduce the 30 percent unemployment rate, but money has been spent to hire only about 15,000 Iraqis, despite U.S. promises that 250,000 jobs would be created by now, U.S. officials familiar with the aid program said.
No comment.
U.S. officials involved in the reconstruction blame security concerns and bureaucratic infighting between the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House for delays in the allocation of funds. By the time the Pentagon's contracting office in Baghdad began awarding contracts, the risk of kidnapping and other attacks aimed at foreign workers was so dire that many projects never began. Several Western firms that won contracts have summarily withdrawn their employees from Iraq.
They might also blame it on the sheer incompetence of the CPA / Pentagon PMO office (the contracting office).
Officials with the contracting office contend the amount of money actually spent does not reflect the full scope of work being performed. A more accurate figure, they said, is the amount of money allocated for reconstruction work. Just over $5.2 billion had been allocated as of June 22, according to the White House budget report.
Yeah, right.
Well insofar as I know from personal comms that at the present risk level, most contractors are trying to minimize upfront outlays because of the risk and exposure, I think you can safely conclude little of the $5.2 billion allocated but not disbursed is really moving.
"The money that is disbursed is typically not disbursed until the work is completed, so it doesn't give the best picture of what's going on," said John Proctor, a spokesman for the contracting office. "Some of our projects take months, or even years, to complete."
Guess what chucklehead, you don't got fucking years, and frankly not much fucking work is occuring because of the fucking bombs and kidnappings.
I'll leave the rest of the article for the readers to follow, it is far too frustrating to comment on. Fucking pissing away opportunities.
Posted by The Lounsbury at July 4, 2004 04:58 PM
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Jan-Jul 2004
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