[xzins]

Jumah, the lightless metal worker, complained that following the 1991 Persian Gulf War, power returned to normal in a few months. That’s partly because Saddam Hussein robbed power from other cities for the sake of his capital. And one rumor circulating in Baghdad is that Saddam used the threat of force, and even death, to make sure managers kept plants running. After last year’s war, much of the plants did run — run away. Locals looted public buildings. Take Jumah’s electricity woes: Soldiers here talk of Iraqis melting down power cables for the copper. Though Iraq’s power system and total power output is nearly what it was before the war, engineers admit much of the problem is simply distributing the juice through broken pipelines. But Nash’s new endeavor throws $5.6 billion at electrical woes alone, compared with $1.5 billion already spent.

[xzins]

“The Iraqi people see the improvements and are optimistic,” Brig. Gen. David N. Blackledge, head of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, said in a meeting with reporters. “Seven out of 10 Iraqis expect their country and their personal lives to be better five years from now.” Blackledge’s soldiers work directly with units on the ground, responding outside the bureaucracy to immediate needs such as renovating schools and reopening hospitals. More students are enrolled in school now than before the war, Blackledge said. And all of Iraq’s hospitals and most of its clinics are open. These and other efforts have received $172 million, $126 million of which has been spent

[blackie]

Rebuilding Iraq: 'We're just getting started' ~ Bump!

[radu]

Thanks for the post and the ping, xzins.
The years of neglect by SoDammed has left the Coalition with a monstrous job ahead, no doubt. The looting didn't help.
It's going to take a while to get the country running smoothly but that was stated, repeatedly, before the war began. In the long run, perseverance WILL pay off and the Iraqis will enjoy living their lives in peace and prosperity.
My lil straw farm hat is off to all the military and civilian personnel who are helping in this effort. :-)

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!