Reconstruction or Deconstruction?

If you have been wondering why the reconstruction effort in Iraq is going so slowly, this NYTimes op-ed piece may be of interest to you.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/opinion/30KRUG.html

All these months later Baghdad still does not have the most basic services in any reliable amount. Water and electricity are sporadic at best in most sections of the city. The oil that was supposed to pay for the war does not seem to be flowing very freely. Of course some degree of blame lies with dissident Iraqis and other terrorist types who want to thwart our efforts. But, as this article points out, we ourselves are to blame for most of it. We are not only hampering the reconstruction by handing out contracts to friends of the administration, but we are increasing Iraqi resentment more every day by not letting them participate in their own recovery.

This is a truly sickening situation. Halliburton, Bechtel, and their like, should be sent home in disgrace.