Irritation grows as residents deprived of air-conditioning and running water three years after the US-led invasion of their country watch the massive US Embassy they call “George W’s palace” rising from the banks of the Tigris. In the pavement cafés, people moan that the structure is bigger than anything Saddam Hussein ever built.
Officially, the design of the compound is supposed to be a secret, but you cannot hide the giant construction cranes and the concrete contours of the 21 buildings that are taking shape. Looming over the skyline, the embassy has the distinction of being the only big US building project in Iraq that is on time and within budget. And it’s a bargain too, coming in at only $592 million.
How fucked up is that?
Let’s just revisit the current state of affairs over there in Iraq (according to this Times Online news item) and compare the wonderful on-time on-budget progress on this monstrosity against other projects in the region:-
- A US Inspector General’s report into reconstruction found that although $22 billion had been spent, water, sewage and electricity, infrastructure still operated at prewar levels
- Despite “significant progress” in recent months, less than half the water and electricity projects have been completed
- Only six of the 150 planned health centres have been completed
- US officials spent $70 million on medical equipment for health clinics that are unlikely ever to be built. More than 75 per cent of the funds for the 150 planned clinics have been allocated
- Task Force Shield, the $147 million programme to train Iraqi security units to protect key oil and electrical sites failed to meet its goals. A fraud investigation is under way
- Oil production was 2.18 million barrels per day in the last week of March. Before the war it was 2.6 million
Still, it’s nice to see the occupying forces have their priorities straight amidst the chaos isn’t it? [avalon5.com]
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