Mistakes have been made. We don't know where the money will come from to fix what we broke in Iraq. It's going cost "staggering sums." Mistakes will continue to be made.
Great planning. With an election year approaching how long before the Bush administration loses interest in Iraq? Or declares success and stops talking about Iraq?
From the NY Times
U.S. Overseer Defends Occupation of Iraq
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 12 ? After one of the worst weeks of the four-month-long occupation of Iraq, the top American administrator here, L. Paul Bremer III, offered an impassioned defense of it today while acknowledging that "mistakes" had led to the deaths of innocent civilians and that finding the money to repair Iraq's crumbling infrastructure was a "substantial problem."
Mr. Bremer's remarks came after a week in which at least 17 people were killed by a car bomb at the Jordanian Embassy on Thursday and fuel shortages prompted riots over the weekend in the region around Basra.
Violence against American troops continued today. One soldier from the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment was killed and another wounded this morning when their convoy struck three improvised explosive devices while driving near Ramadi, about 60 miles west of Baghdad.
The death today brought to at least 57 the number of American servicemen killed in attacks since the end of major combat operations on May 1. Witnesses also said a military vehicle was attacked north of Baghdad, but that report could not be confirmed tonight.
In recent days, the American military has also come under criticism for three shootings in which at least nine Iraqis were killed in Baghdad. One of those cases, military officials confirmed, involved what was apparently a case of mistaken identity that led soldiers to kill two members of the Iraqi police on Saturday.
But today, Mr. Bremer forcefully emphasized the progress made so far ? including the reopening of hospitals, health clinics and schools ? while warning that many of the problems that remained were the result of 40 years of neglect and that they would take time to fix. He added that the number of deaths of innocent civilians were "really very low," but said he could not give a number.
"Freedom matters," Mr. Bremer said at a news conference here. "It is important to remember this and look beyond the shootouts and the blackouts, and remind ourselves of the range of rights that Iraqis enjoy today because of the coalition's military victory." He cited new academic freedoms and the ability to travel and to criticize people in authority.
During the news conference, one Arab journalist asked after "four months of chaos, why haven't you been able to persuade your government to send more troops to Iraq?"
Mr. Bremer replied: "I don't accept the definition of a country in chaos. Most of this country is at peace."
He adopted a less confident tone in describing how costly it would be to rebuild Iraq and how it is not at all clear how that will be paid for.
Over the next four years, it should take "staggering" sums, Mr. Bremer said, including $16 billion to improve water systems and $13 billion to bolster electric power.
"We have enough money this year," he said, even though the American-led occupation forces will run a $3.5 billion deficit.
But, he warned, "It does leave us with a substantial problem in the next year ? as we have to make these major infrastructure investments ? about where we're going to get the capital." Mr. Bremer said he was hopeful that a conference of donor nations in October would supply a significant chunk of capital.
Paradoxically, one of the biggest challenges facing the American-led civilian authority is proving to be providing fuel for citizens of a country that boasts the world's second-largest oil reserves. Two days of violent riots in Basra, spurred by miles-long gasoline lines and electricity failures, were quelled Monday after British troops distributed gasoline from their own reserves.
But fuel shortages may prove common, according to estimates by United Nations officials, who say the country is almost certain to endure shortages this winter of kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.
In addition to the killings over the weekend of the two Iraqi policemen, Baghdad residents have been angered by recent American attacks that killed members of two families riding in their cars.
"Look, it's a regrettable thing anytime there is the loss of innocent life," Mr. Bremer said in response to a question about civilian deaths. "There are, in combat operations, always going to be mistakes."
Great planning. With an election year approaching how long before the Bush administration loses interest in Iraq? Or declares success and stops talking about Iraq?
From the NY Times
U.S. Overseer Defends Occupation of Iraq
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 12 ? After one of the worst weeks of the four-month-long occupation of Iraq, the top American administrator here, L. Paul Bremer III, offered an impassioned defense of it today while acknowledging that "mistakes" had led to the deaths of innocent civilians and that finding the money to repair Iraq's crumbling infrastructure was a "substantial problem."
Mr. Bremer's remarks came after a week in which at least 17 people were killed by a car bomb at the Jordanian Embassy on Thursday and fuel shortages prompted riots over the weekend in the region around Basra.
Violence against American troops continued today. One soldier from the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment was killed and another wounded this morning when their convoy struck three improvised explosive devices while driving near Ramadi, about 60 miles west of Baghdad.
The death today brought to at least 57 the number of American servicemen killed in attacks since the end of major combat operations on May 1. Witnesses also said a military vehicle was attacked north of Baghdad, but that report could not be confirmed tonight.
In recent days, the American military has also come under criticism for three shootings in which at least nine Iraqis were killed in Baghdad. One of those cases, military officials confirmed, involved what was apparently a case of mistaken identity that led soldiers to kill two members of the Iraqi police on Saturday.
But today, Mr. Bremer forcefully emphasized the progress made so far ? including the reopening of hospitals, health clinics and schools ? while warning that many of the problems that remained were the result of 40 years of neglect and that they would take time to fix. He added that the number of deaths of innocent civilians were "really very low," but said he could not give a number.
"Freedom matters," Mr. Bremer said at a news conference here. "It is important to remember this and look beyond the shootouts and the blackouts, and remind ourselves of the range of rights that Iraqis enjoy today because of the coalition's military victory." He cited new academic freedoms and the ability to travel and to criticize people in authority.
During the news conference, one Arab journalist asked after "four months of chaos, why haven't you been able to persuade your government to send more troops to Iraq?"
Mr. Bremer replied: "I don't accept the definition of a country in chaos. Most of this country is at peace."
He adopted a less confident tone in describing how costly it would be to rebuild Iraq and how it is not at all clear how that will be paid for.
Over the next four years, it should take "staggering" sums, Mr. Bremer said, including $16 billion to improve water systems and $13 billion to bolster electric power.
"We have enough money this year," he said, even though the American-led occupation forces will run a $3.5 billion deficit.
But, he warned, "It does leave us with a substantial problem in the next year ? as we have to make these major infrastructure investments ? about where we're going to get the capital." Mr. Bremer said he was hopeful that a conference of donor nations in October would supply a significant chunk of capital.
Paradoxically, one of the biggest challenges facing the American-led civilian authority is proving to be providing fuel for citizens of a country that boasts the world's second-largest oil reserves. Two days of violent riots in Basra, spurred by miles-long gasoline lines and electricity failures, were quelled Monday after British troops distributed gasoline from their own reserves.
But fuel shortages may prove common, according to estimates by United Nations officials, who say the country is almost certain to endure shortages this winter of kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.
In addition to the killings over the weekend of the two Iraqi policemen, Baghdad residents have been angered by recent American attacks that killed members of two families riding in their cars.
"Look, it's a regrettable thing anytime there is the loss of innocent life," Mr. Bremer said in response to a question about civilian deaths. "There are, in combat operations, always going to be mistakes."
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