$100 million for prisons in '06, page 1

Reconstruction in Iraq now means money for prisons. In spite of the fact that essential infrastructure is in worse shape than before the war, the only new construction being funded this year is intended to accommodate an apparent expectation of a need for additional prison space in Iraq.

Experts on Iraq reconstruction said it was notable that the only new rebuilding money was for prisons after the public relations disaster caused by the eruption of the scandal at Abu Ghraib prison where US forces abused Iraqi inmates.

"For a country like the United States that is promoting the advancement of freedom, building jails is not necessarily your best image," said Rick Barton of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The initial goal of the US rebuilding program was to improve the lives of Iraqis by fixing the country's dilapidated infrastructure and polish America's image at the same time.

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The unfortunate reality is that whatever the truth may be regarding the reasons for invading Iraq, despite the US government spending its citizens tax dollars to the tune of $50 billion per year, its promised reconstruction has failed. The result is that lawlessness will continue to escalate, whether from 'insurgents' or simply unemployed and disgruntled Iraqis.

The fact that the only new construction funds for 2006 has been requested for additional prison space is a huge defeat for a US government that assured its citizens that the Iraqi people would welcome the 'coalition of the willing' with open arms.

One factor contributing to this failure is the apparent theft of $9 billion in Iraqi oil revenue which was to have been spent rebuilding Iraqi infrastructure decimated by the 1991 invasion, the decade of UN imposed economic sanctions which followed (causing the deaths of an estimated 1 million Iraqis) and the present conflict which destroyed remaining Iraqi infrastructure.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (December, 2004) 30% of the funds designated for reconstruction have been lost to fraud, corruption and mismanagement. The result of the reconstruction failure looms heavily over the Iraqi people who now face an uncertain future of third world proportions.

Additional prison space will undoubtedly be needed as more Iraqi people refuse to sit on their unemployed hands while the coalition continues to bungle the job.

Related News Links:

www.commondreams.org
www.npr.org

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
NEWS: Ongoing Iraqi Reconstruction Audit Reveals More Fraud and Mismanagement of Funds
NEWS: Iraq collapsing into civil war
White House to withdraw funding for rebuilding Iraq

[edit on 7-3-2006 by DJDOHBOY]