NYT/AP: Democrats Wary of Iraq Reconstruction Cost; Biden: Results so far "aren't pretty" [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Dems Wary of Iraq Reconstruction Cost
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 25, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Emboldened by a successful first vote against President Bush's Iraq war policy, Senate Democrats said Thursday they were wary of the administration's anticipated $1.2 billion request for reconstruction there.

Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he wants assurances from the administration that the money would not fuel corruption or the insurgency in Iraq.

A key piece of Bush's new strategy is increasing reconstruction efforts, with the U.S. pledging another $1.2 billion and the Iraqi government designating $10 billion. As part of the plan, Bush is dispatching 21,500 additional troops to Iraq to bolster security so reconstruction efforts are not stalled.

''I hope we will hear today some concrete details on why these funds will achieve better results than we've been able to achieve before,'' Biden said.

The State Department has spent nearly $15 billion in reconstruction already and ''as you know better than I do, the results aren't pretty,'' the Delaware Democrat added....

***

Sen. Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the panel, said he wants regular progress reports that are much more detailed than previously provided to Congress. Lugar on Wednesday announced he had serious reservations that Bush's new Iraq plan would work....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-US-Iraq.html