Report laments Iraq reconstruction failings

The report details numerous failings in the reconstruction process since the invasion of Iraq in 2003

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Sunday, 14, Dec 2008 08:29

A report into the history of America's reconstruction efforts in Iraq has concluded that the US did not develop the framework nor prepared adequately for the rebuilding of the Middle Eastern country.

A copy of the 513 page report entitled Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience, written by the head of Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, has been obtained by the New York Times which has published the report's findings.

The paper says the report is currently being circulated among policy reviewers and senior officials in Washington.

The report says that a total of $117 billion (£78 billion) had been spent on reconstruction efforts by mid-2008 but noticeable improvements to Iraq's infrastructure were yet to be made.

It also states that the Pentagon was misleading the public about the number of Iraqi security forces taking over from US troops with former secretary of state Colin Powell being quoted as saying the number would jump by 20,000 every week.

Mr Bowen also questions why the programme to rebuild the country was pursued when the increasing violence in the country made reconstruction efforts difficult. He concludes that the US government "was not adequately prepared" to take up the project of rebuilding the Middle Eastern country.

He also states that the US government was never able to develop a holistic framework or doctrine for the country which would combine diplomacy, development and military action.

In his conclusion, the report's author states: “We spent as much money as we could, and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us.”

The New York Times reports that the manuscript is based on 500 interviews, 600 audits and inspections of projects supervised by Mr Bowen’s office.