Iraq says needs $100 bln to rebuild infrastructure

[ECH1969]

Iraq needs around $100 billion over the next four to five years to rebuild its shattered infrastructure, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Tuesday.

Dabbagh was speaking at a news conference in Kuwait, during a meeting of officials from donor countries and the United Nations to discuss reconstruction and economic reform in Iraq.

Reconstruction has been hampered by insurgent violence which forced many projects to be halted and diverted funds away from rebuilding and into increased security.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-10-31T102536Z_01_L31558758_RTRIDST_0_ECONOMY-IRAQ-UPDATE-1.XML

[wakeme2008]

1. Use your OIL $$$$

:grr:

[saigon68]

7. They can't ----- It belongs to Cheney

And his Thug friends

[acmavm]

2. Hell, I though we'd already given way more that that for rebuilding

the 'infrastructure'.

Guess they're not happy with a shoddy job on a few schools.

Ingrates.

[Corgigal]

3. So do OUR inner cities

but they aren't getting it. KBR wouldn't be able to steal it so quickly stateside, is my best quess.

[jarab]

4. What audacity!

Betcha they get the most of it, though.
...O...

[SoCalDem]

5. True, but one has to also consider that

We blew a whole bunch of stuff up once we got there...and our presence is fueling the blowing up of a whole bunch MORE stuff..every day...

If your neighbor broke into your house and trashed it..killed your Grandma , burned your car up, and insisted on staying there , while harrassing you daily, you "might" think it was fair to at least try to get them to pay for the damage they did..

[saigon68]

9. NO --- Most people I know would Get a Gun and KILL the MF

Who burned my child to a Crisp.



++++++++++

[jarab]

11. I could compromise on reconstruction ...

Help them rebuild their homesteads with our money and their own hands - not our contractors'.
They're on their own with the other infrastructure.

As an aside, sort of, it seems to me that we were able to train our American GIs (basic, AIT, and advanced infantry skills) - and have them dying on the ground in Vietnam - in much less than a year, and we're over three years in training the Iraqi soldiers to do the same for themselves (fight).
What's good enough for our GIs should suffice for them.

It wouldn't be in their personal or national interests to have us leave; and since we're going to leave (hypothetically), it would behoove them to lock us in to some astronomical rebuilding contract.
I not only want us out of Iraq, but I would like to see some measure of hand-washing of the entire debacle.
They want our money and its accompanying benefits.

I can hope.

...O...

[SoCalDem]

13. The second we actually leave, the "army' will disband

They are just humoring us..

[izzie]

6. One thinks it was better under Saddam. Old but working

Any thing to do with Iraq has no reason with me at all, and it is as if no one knows what they are doing. This WH group have trouble running any thing. I used to think Republicans could run big business but be sides getting good stock profits even the businesses are having trouble. Look at Ford? GM? It seems to be a place that new blood is needed such as with "the" Google and business from Japan. We really need new genes all over the place. New people going to new schools and all that . It is a revolution that DC has not figured out yet but a good percent or us people see it coming. I think it is half the trouble with the Middle East. The old ways are going and it is a fight to keep them by law in power and they are going to get lost in the rush to the news ways . You just can not stop it from coming.

[FormerOstrich]

8. What assurance is there that then

next $100 billion won't be squandered like how many other hundred millions directed to wards rebuilding the infrastructure?

At this point it seems a catch 22. Having people employed and restored infrastructure would seem the answer to decreasing the violence except the increased violence prevents the restoring (hence employment) of the infrastructure.

I believe we should mainly pull out of Iraq and hang out defending the boarders. Then, at the Iraqi's request, we send in the Army Corp of Engineers to do whatever jobs they want us to do (provided it is relative safe). If we aren't ever asked to do anything we just eventually draw down and go away. Meanwhile everything is up to the Iraqi's. We should just be the humble servants waiting for directions.

[FloridaPat]

10. That's assuming we're going to stop blowing cities up today.

[niceypoo]

12. Um, we are destroying the place as we speak...

...its useless trying to rebuild in the middle of a violent war.

[Javaman]

14. And how much was pissed away in the sewer of a war for reconstruction so far?

Oh wait, it wasn't pissed away, it was stolen. Ahhh that's right. And what ever was left over, had to be redirected to security because it's such a complete and udder cluster fuck over there.

I haven't said it today but, I completely dispise and loath that waste of life mother fucker* who is pResident. Rotting in prision is the best form of punishment for that colossal failure of a human being*.

[KansDem]

15. Call for Hallie Burton! Call for Hallie Burton!

Hallie Burton? You're wanted on the Red Phone...

[Giant Robot]

16. Great!

Now that we know the amount, we cut them a check and withdraw our troops as soon as it is cashed. Save lives, time, and probably when all is said and done, money. That's my idea of cut and run.

[superconnected]

17. bechtel and haliburton want more money.