US ‘had no policy’ in place to rebuild Iraq

By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington
Published: October 30 2005 21:01 Last updated: October 30 2005 23:47



The US government had “no comprehensive policy or regulatory guidelines” in place for staffing the management of postwar Iraq, according to the top government watchdog overseeing the country’s reconstruction.


The lack of planning had plagued reconstruction since the US-led invasion, and been exacerbated by a “general lack of co-ordination” between US government agencies charged with the rebuilding of Iraq, said Stuart Bowen, the special inspector-general for Iraq reconstruction, in a report released on Sunday.


His 110-page quarterly report, delivered to Congress at the weekend, has underscored how a “reconstruction gap” is emerging that threatens to leave many projects planned by the US on the drawing board.


“Nearly two years ago, the US developed a reconstruction plan that specified a target number of projects that would be executed using the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund.


“That number was revised downward . Now it appears that the actual number of projects completed will be even lower,” Mr Bowen says in his report. Increasing security costs were “the most salient” reason behind the shortfall, he concluded.