Rebuilding Iraq........who's doing it?

[Tmy]

Why should it cost so much to rebuild a couple of brideges and buildings. Its not like the place was carpet bombed.

Who is doing the job anyway. I mean Iraq has construction workers too. Im sure theyd work for peanuts. I've heard stories that the reason they need 78 billion is cause US compaines are getting US type money to build a bridge when the Iraqis could do the same job for a fraction of the costs.

Anyone else hear about this?

[Crossbow]

Well for starters, it is a great deal more than just a couple of bridges and buildings.

Water supplies,
Electrical Distribution,
Repairing damage from both wars,
Oil production,
Roads,
etc.,
all need a great deal of work just to bring them to the level they were at before the First Gulf War, let alone current standards.

True, labor costs could be quite low, but one will still need to get the equipment and materials into Iraq (rather costly), then plan, design, and finally, actually build the items of concern.

[Cleon]

Couple things to remember--

#1, Iraq wasn't some "banana republic." It was actually fairly advanced and had a sizeable infrastructure. Over the years since 91, the US has taken out electrical and water systems, highways, buildings, pretty much a decent chunk of the infrastructure. All that crap needs to be rebuilt.

#2, Nearly all of that money is going to US firms. Halliburton, for example, got the contract to operate Iraqi oil fields. I'm sure it's just a coincidence, though--obviously the war was aged to "disarm Iraq" or "liberate the Iraqi people" or whatever the reason of the day happens to be.

For a short list of companies who are getting contracts, check out http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0333/mondo3.php.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Cleon
Nearly all of that money is going to US firms. Halliburton, for example, got the contract to operate Iraqi oil fields.
And some of that money will wind up in the hands of Vice President Cheney (http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/16/cheney.halliburton/index.html).

[Mr Manifesto]

Originally posted by Tmy
Why should it cost so much to rebuild a couple of brideges and buildings. Its not like the place was carpet bombed.

Who is doing the job anyway. I mean Iraq has construction workers too. Im sure theyd work for peanuts. I've heard stories that the reason they need 78 billion is cause US compaines are getting US type money to build a bridge when the Iraqis could do the same job for a fraction of the costs.

Anyone else hear about this?

You know that the US was bombing Iraq before the war, too, right?

[Tmy]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto


You know that the US was bombing Iraq before the war, too, right?

Yeah, but when I think "rebuild" I think of putting it back to its prewar passible state. Its not like it was a 3rd world backwater before the war started. We dont have to turn the place into Disneyland. just get the basics up and running. After that the Iraqis can work (and pay) for the rest.

[karl]

Without law and order -- which you haven't managed to establish yet, by far, it's almost hopeless to build or repair anything. Supplies and spare parts get stolen faster than you can replace them, and the local construction workers can't get to the site without being shot at.