- Joined
- Oct 12, 2009
- Messages
- 6,762
- Reaction score
- 1,619
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Private
BAGHDAD — In its largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, the United States government has spent $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, building tens of thousands of hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity substations, schools and bridges.
The projects run the gamut — from a cutting-edge, $270 million water treatment plant in Nasiriya that works at a fraction of its intended capacity because it is too sophisticated for Iraqi workers to operate, to a farmers’ market that farmers cannot decide how to share, to a large American hospital closed immediately after it was handed over to Iraq because the government was unable to supply it with equipment, a medical staff or electricity.
The concern about the sustainability of the projects comes as Iraq is preparing for pivotal national elections in January and as rebuilding has emerged as a political imperative in Iraq, eclipsing security in some parts of the country as the main anxiety of an electorate frustrated with the lack of social, economic and political progress. American forces are scheduled to begin withdrawing in large numbers next year.
In hundreds of cases during the past two years, the Iraqi government has refused or delayed the transfer of American-built projects because it cannot staff or maintain them, Iraqi and American government officials say.
Other facilities, including hospitals, schools and prisons built with American funds, have remained empty long after they were completed because there were not enough Iraqis trained to operate them.
Only reinforces what Ive thought for awhile, the Iraqi's are basically using us as a crutch.
First a wish everyone would understand that unless you have a time machine you are not going to get to go back and change the mistakes Bush made and they were plenty.
The important thing to understand is we can not afford to spend the rest of out lives taking care of the Iraqis. It's like with children at some point you have let go out and make it on their own, and hope and pray you have past on to them the knowledge to get by.
I hate to bring up old axioms but you can lead a camel to water but you can't make drink. Or something like that.
As long as we can insure that Iraq never become the threat we were lead to believe they were under Saddam we have done enough. I'm not saying abandon them all together, just step back and give them room and time to sink or swim.
Its not a perfect democracy in and no one ever thought it would be but we have won the war in Iraq...........
It is more peaceful there on any given night as it is in Detroit.........
"Human beings will do anything, anything. I am convinced. That's why when all those beheadings started in Iraq it didn't bother me. A lot of people here were horrified, "Whaaaa, beheadings!" What, are you fu*king surprised? Just one more form of extreme human behavior. Besides, who cares about some mercenary civilian contractor from Oklahoma who gets his head cut off? F*ck 'em. Hey Jack, you don't want to get your head cut off? Stay the f*ck in Oklahoma. They ain't cuttin' off heads in Oklahoma, far as I know. But I do know this: you strap on a gun and go struttin' around some other mens country you better be ready for some action Jack.
It kills you lefties to give President Bush any credit but because of him Saddam and his murderous rapist sons are dead..
We do have somewhat of a democracy there and its up to the Iraqis from here on out........Thank you President Bush..............
I believe we are going to have to spend decades and probably tens of trillions of dollars if we ever hope to be sucessful converting Iraqis into an American way of thinking.
What I suspect will happen once America leaves them to thier own choices is they will revert to what they were before we arrived.
Only reinforces what Ive thought for awhile, the Iraqi's are basically using us as a crutch.
What does this have to do with anything? The "war" was over within a month.
Source? Two can play this game
Red herring stew! It has nothing to do with Saddam and his sons; rebuilding Iraq will cost more than the benefits received.
Yes, thank you President Bush for deficit spending when the country was not in recession. Wouldn't the conservative approach be to raise taxes to offset the increase in spending? Supporting such actions makes you just as much as a lefty.
My very clueless left wing friend..........The war was won because the success of the surge ordered by President Bush.That is undenialable no matter how much you lefties try and blame everything on President Bush....Its true President Bush was no fiscal Conservative but compared to your hero Hussein Obama he is the biggest Conservative that ever lived.....As far as spending goes you lefties love to spend money as long as its not yours and is the taxpayers..............
My very clueless left wing friend..........The war was won because the success of the surge ordered by President Bush.That is undenialable no matter how much you lefties try and blame everything on President Bush....Its true President Bush was no fiscal Conservative but compared to your hero Hussein Obama he is the biggest Conservative that ever lived.....As far as spending goes you lefties love to spend money as long as its not yours and is the taxpayers..............
Still trying to rehabilitate the man that you refer to as a "great and inspired world leader"? :2funny:
My very clueless left wing friend..........The war was won because the success of the surge ordered by President Bush.That is undenialable no matter how much you lefties try and blame everything on President Bush....Its true President Bush was no fiscal Conservative but compared to your hero Hussein Obama he is the biggest Conservative that ever lived.....As far as spending goes you lefties love to spend money as long as its not yours and is the taxpayers..............
Its not a perfect democracy in and no one ever thought it would be but we have won the war in Iraq...........It is more peaceful there on any given night as it is in Detroit.........It kills you lefties to give President Bush any credit but because of him Saddam and his murderous rapist sons are dead..We do have soemewhat of a democracy there and its up to the Iraqis from here on out........Thank you President Bush..............
And Obama is?
Keep playing the partisan game.
Newsflash: No one, especially the Presidents of these United States, are perfect people...or often even decent people.
:lol:
When I refer to Obama as a "great and inspired world leader".....your criticism will have some credibility. As of yet, I haven't made the comparison.
...but sooner or later, Obama is going to screw up...
Just don't throw stones when you live in a glass house is all I'm saying. You can talk trash all you want about Bush but sooner or later, Obama is going to screw up. Just like everyone else. Instead of trying to belittle the opposing side, regardless of whether that person is a moron or not, try coming up with forward thinking suggestions. Throw some actual factual solutions out there. I know we all love to talk trash. IT's fun. But it never really solves anything besides putting you farther on your side of the fence and me farther on mine. C'mon. let's just hug, make up, and do some bi-partisan spooning.
EVERYBODY!!!
sooner or later!? You don't consider that he has already screwed up?
- failed economic stimulus
- wrong side of Honduras
- withdrawing missile shield and dropping Poland and Check as allies.
- got bumkiss from NATO on Afghanistan
- got bumkiss from Asia on Afghanistan
The only win I credit him with is decriminalizing marijuana.
He's not doing so hot.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?