Iraq Power Grid Shows U.S. Flaws

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040912/ts_latimes/iraqpowergridshowsu

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The strike crippled Iraq's largest source of electricity, cutting off almost 10% of the country's power supply. It took two months and 23 days for Iraqi engineers to get the plant running again.

<snip>

Today, 17 months and $172 million later, the Baiji power plant — a vast "Lawrence of Arabia" meets "Blade Runner" complex 125 miles north of Baghdad — produces less than half the electricity it generated when it was built two decades ago.



The trouble restoring Iraq's electrical system exemplifies the failures of a larger reconstruction process still marked by tainted water supplies, limited sewage treatment and curtailed construction of public buildings. An effort that was supposed to provide jobs, stability and democracy has instead produced a deep reservoir of confusion and anger that feeds the country's deadly insurgency.


Although electricity was the foundation of the rebuilding campaign, State and Defense department planners vastly underestimated the time, money and effort needed to restore the country's power grid, which had deteriorated far beyond their expectations under 12 years of U.N. sanctions.

[LauraK]

1. Send Nader over there to straighten out those flaws!

Knock yourself out Ralph. Make yourself famous again.

[Nambe]

2. He could be a candidate there, for the dark green party.

Ralph for PM on '04.

[lapfog_1]

3. Part of the problem

is that Iraq HAS one of best educated populations in the ME, with
plenty of engineers. Did we HIRE any of these people to get their
power system back up and running? NO. Did we follow their more
European design of power systems? NO. Any surprise that a
largely incompatible hodge podge now has problems (and now only
the US contractors have any idea how the whole thing works, or
doesn't).

Compound Stupidity!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Did we HIRE any of these people to get their power system back up and runn

Course not... how would Hallibacon get to do what it did with other reputable companies looking on.... is there ANYTHING this administration refuses to muck up?

[izzie]

5. It would be smart to work with the system they have.

Way back I read that any hospital in Iraq must buy only from US companies. I watched this in Saudi, as they hired a new country to put a phone system in when I was their so every thing in the old systems from other country had to go. Phones were almost un-usable.Iraq has been sold off to US companies and it is not working.Capital always uses its armies to protect their money making businesses. I am for Capitalism but with some over sight.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Iraq has been sold off to US companies and it is not working

Just another way to prove that our interest in going over there was not of a selfish nature.

The fact that capital uses its armies to protect money making businesses.... is an abhorrence... a travesty.... and a great way to show people what you are really all about.

[krkaufman]

7. LOTS of oversight... and regulation. n/t