1ST Official History of American Reconstruction in Iraq (NYT)

[kpete]

Iraq Rebuilding Badly Hobbled, U.S. Report Finds

By JAMES GLANZ
Published: January 24, 2006


The first official history of the $25 billion American reconstruction effort in Iraq depicts a program hobbled from the outset by gross understaffing, a lack of technical expertise, bureaucratic infighting, secrecy and constantly increasing security costs, according to a preliminary draft copy of the document dated December 2005.


The document, which begins with the secret prewar planning for reconstruction and touches on nearly every phase of the program through 2005, was assembled by the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and debated last month in a closed forum by roughly two dozen experts from outside the office.

A person at the forum provided a copy to The New York Times. The office of the inspector general, whose agents and auditors have been examining and reporting on various aspects of the rebuilding since early 2004, declined to comment on the report other than to say it was highly preliminary.

...............

In the document, the paralyzing effect of staffing shortfalls and contracting battles between the State Department and the Pentagon, creating delays of months at a stretch, are described for the first time from inside the program.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/international/middleeast/24reconstruct.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=fa75c43f61a6a212&ex=1295758800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[bryanbelt]

1. Even Daddy Knew

I know this is likely a retread, but I don't think it hurts to "remember when"...have you seen the George HW Bush quote on why he didn't occupy Iraq? Eerie...read it on PoliticalTruthWatch.Com.

[newyawker99]

2. Hi bryanbelt!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: