Failing to Plan

[TexasTiger 14,547]

Is planning to fail.

US ‘had no policy’ in place to rebuild Iraq

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 [last year]. 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.

While 93 per cent of the nearly $30bn (€25bn, £17bn) the US has appropriated for reconstruction has been committed to programmes and projects, more than 25 per cent of the funds have been spent on security costs related to the insurgency.

The largest expected increase in costs to complete planned projects had occurred in the Project and Contracting Office (PCO), which manages projects in the oil, electrical, security and water sectors and has been allocated $4.6bn in reconstruction funds.

While in most sectors PCO data indicated that project costs would not exceed initial estimates, Mr Bowen found that oil sector-related costs had been under-estimated by about $790m.

Conflicting data also showed “possible funding anomalies”, because although the PCO reported that more than 85 per cent of oil projects were on or ahead of schedule, other data showed that the cost of completing the tasks was increasing beyond initial estimates.

The report said a separate agency given the job of assisting the Iraqi government in training and equipping security forces – a job for which it was allocated $835m – had spent 14 per cent more than originally estimated.

The special inspector-general also highlighted a stark increase in non-military deaths in connection to Iraq’s reconstruction. The number of non-Iraqi contractor deaths from all countries rose to 412 for the period of March 2003 to September 2005. That compared to 120 deaths up until Sptember last year.

While the most successful post-conflict reconstruction effort in US history – the reconstruction of Japan and Germany following the second world war – began being planned in the months after the US entered the war, Mr Bowen found that “systematic planning” for the post-hostilities period in Iraq was “insufficient in both scope and implementation”.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/1005fd16-4984-11d...00779e2340.html

[Bottomfeeder 244]

Kucinich Uses House Procedure To Demand Documents From White House Iraq Group (WHIG)

Kucinich Uses Resolution Of Inquiry To Demand Documents From White House Group That Developed Strategy To “Sell” War To The Public And Press

It seems the policies of this administration have always been to create problems for others to solve. From a lack of planning Iraq, or outright lying about it's necessity to the increasing budget deficit, this administration has been irresponsible to say the least. We are going to find out the truth and if some have broken a law or three, then those people will be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law.

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSin...ocumentID=35791

Now I must go back to finish my Harper's and Mother Jones magazines. See Ya

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/20...ul_hackett.html

http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/200...iring_back.html

Not yet online

http://harpers.org/HarpersIndex2005-11.html

[Piglet 0]

Lalala I'm not listening, you people just wanna blame Bush for everything, you blame him when your car won't start lalala....

[Auburn85 438]

and Kucinich also said that the Iraq elections would be a farce.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_...riceletter.html

and he always looks to spew his anti war non- sense because he stated that the troops were in th wrong gulf following the landfall of Katrina.

[Bottomfeeder 244]

and Kucinich also said that the Iraq elections would be a farce.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_...riceletter.html

and he always looks to spew his anti war non- sense because he stated that the troops were in th wrong gulf following the landfall of Katrina.

194341[/snapback]

What in the world does that have to do with WMD in Iraq? Or, Al Queada links to Iraq? Or, our troops fighting the wrong war at the wrong time? Or, "the intelligence is being fixed around the policy?"

Thanks for the memories

Face it, conservatives in Alabama vote against higher income taxes and blacks when they vote republican. You cannot convince me of any different. You guys are wrong, because you vote against yourselves. And when you talk about right to life, I just start laughing intensely. I almost start puking I laugh so hard. How can you, in your right mind justify overturning Roe vs. Wade, knowing that it will cost the lives of the mothers-to-be when they resort to backroom abortions? That's a contradiction in every form of so-called concern for the unborn. Extinguishing both lives for your own self-righteous morality, it's plain insane stupidity. I always knew something was wrong in this state, now I know what it is. It's the education system being corrupted by the religious right and the republicans. That's what is wrong here, you guys are brainwashed, period. Did you get a tax-break that was not absorbed by inflation or higher gas prices? Do you really think ol' Dubya cares about us little people? Well, he doesn't. Surprise! And, if you think he does you are deceived.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/10/18/...ain242210.shtml

"This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," quipped the GOP standard-bearer. "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/18/...ain584234.shtml

"We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept. 11" attacks.

pResident Bush

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/mu..._elite_base.mp3

Republican Congressman Slams Bush On Militarized Police State Preparation

[AURaptor 1,137]

Did Kucinich ever find himself a First Lady? I mean, that was the only reason he even RAN for President, wasn't it ? To get him some? Sheesh, some guys will do ANYTHING ...

[WarTim 3,534]

Failing to plan, as opposed to the libs who are constantly "planning to FAIL".

[Auburn85 438]

and Kucinich also said that the Iraq elections would be a farce.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh10_...riceletter.html

and he always looks to spew his anti war non- sense because he stated that the troops were in th wrong gulf following the landfall of Katrina.

194341[/snapback]

What in the world does that have to do with WMD in Iraq? Or, Al Queada links to Iraq? Or, our troops fighting the wrong war at the wrong time? Or, "the intelligence is being fixed around the policy?"

Thanks for the memories

Face it, conservatives in Alabama vote against higher income taxes and blacks when they vote republican. You cannot convince me of any different. You guys are wrong, because you vote against yourselves. And when you talk about right to life, I just start laughing intensely. I almost start puking I laugh so hard. How can you, in your right mind justify overturning Roe vs. Wade, knowing that it will cost the lives of the mothers-to-be when they resort to backroom abortions? That's a contradiction in every form of so-called concern for the unborn. Extinguishing both lives for your own self-righteous morality, it's plain insane stupidity. I always knew something was wrong in this state, now I know what it is. It's the education system being corrupted by the religious right and the republicans. That's what is wrong here, you guys are brainwashed, period. Did you get a tax-break that was not absorbed by inflation or higher gas prices? Do you really think ol' Dubya cares about us little people? Well, he doesn't. Surprise! And, if you think he does you are deceived.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/10/18/...ain242210.shtml

"This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," quipped the GOP standard-bearer. "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/18/...ain584234.shtml

"We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept. 11" attacks.

pResident Bush

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/mu..._elite_base.mp3

Republican Congressman Slams Bush On Militarized Police State Preparation

194367[/snapback]

Yeah, I know this state has problems, but both the house and the senate are majority democrat. The Lt. Governor is democrat. The governor is republican, but has little power. The education system being corrupted by the religious right and conservatives? How? Explain. Paul Hubbard is the governor of the education system. He can ride both sides of the fenses. The state needs teacher testing, which has been halted by who? Joe Reed (big nothing at Alabama State), and other members of the black caucus. And why do we not want tax increases? Well, look at the people who will spend it.

Oh and what do you say to blacks that vote Republican? That they are being misled or misguided?

Yeah, we voted against amendment 2which would have removed racist language form the constitution. What would it have accomplished? Other than a morale booster on the perception of the state. Our perception will remain negative. We'll be known for George Wallace, Roy Moore, redneck, illiterate, ect. and the list goes on.

[Bottomfeeder 244]

And why do we not want tax increases? Well, look at the people who will spend it.

I agreee here!

Oh and what do you say to blacks that vote Republican? That they are being misled or misguided?

They are misled in church.

Yeah, we voted against amendment 2which would have removed racist language form the constitution. What would it have accomplished?

I voted against it too, because would increase taxes

Other than a morale booster on the perception of the state. Our perception will remain negative. We'll be known for George Wallace, Roy Moore, redneck, illiterate, ect. and the list goes on.

Agreed