Reconstruction Failing in Iraq

In recent letters to the editor readers suggested the media should report all the positive events in Iraq as well as the negative ones. Positive aspects are difficult to find in a country where recent estimates put the number of children in school as low as 35% of eligible children. In Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, electricity supplies remain lower than before the invasion. Surveys put availability of clean water as low as 53% across the country. Untreated sewage continues to pollute the Euphrates River due to malfunctioning treatment plants and ruptured sewer lines.

While one might argue there are improvements being made, the progress to date has been small. Most of the current reconstruction effort is the result of damage done by American destruction of the infrastructure. As much as half the funds allocated for reconstruction are consumed by overhead costs. Reconstruction efforts are hampered in large measure by the lack of stability in the region.

The solution to these issues is not at all obvious. A military presence seems to aggravate rather than to resolve the issues of a failing country. Perhaps the solution is removal of the American military and the provision of support so the Iraqis can rebuild their own country. We Americans seem to be spending inordinate amounts of money for a failing enterprise.