Iraqis Protest Lack Of Basic Services

[Charleston Chew]

Run time: 02:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hNONXnNoTM   Posted on YouTube: February 14, 2011 By YouTube Member: theGlobalReport Views on YouTube: 32   Posted on DU: February 14, 2011 By DU Member: Charleston Chew Views on DU: 395

 
Iraqis took part in scattered demonstrations this past week, calling for an improvement in basic services and the resignation of local government officials as unrest sweeps much of the Arab world.

[Charleston Chew]

1. Hundreds of Iraqis protest lack of basic services

(Reuters) - Hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets Friday to demonstrate against a lack of basic services, the latest in a series of protests that have swept the country as turmoil rocks other parts of the Arab world.

Iraq has been slow to get back on its feet almost eight years after the U.S.-led invasion and is trying to tackle severe water shortages and a sporadic electricity supply. Infrastructure remains badly damaged.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71A3ZL20110211

[Lasher]

2. Availability of electricity is better than it was before the invasion.

Average of mega watt hours generated was estimated at 95,000 before the war, and had improved to 151,700 by November last year. Prewar average hours of electricity per day was estimated at 4-8 nationwide and 16-24 in Baghdad. By March last year, availability was 18.4 and 19.5 hours, respectively.

At least in this respect, Iraq is surely "back on its feet almost eight years after the U.S.-led invasion." Apparently the author, Khalid al-Ansary, wants us to conclude that the US has a moral obligation to spend even more money on their electricity grid. It's not up to US standards but it's certainly better than it was before the invasion.

Brookings Institute Iraq Index (scroll to page 28).