The news from Iraq keeps getting worse. We've known for a long time that the Bush Administration's justification for going into Iraq was false. There were no weapons of mass destruction. Note the contrast with Gulf War I, in which the president's father built a broad coalition before going in. The surrounding Arab states were on board. W. Bush by contrast chose an arrogant, go-it-alone approach, with backing from the Brits and Aussies but hardly anyone else. Now we're four years into the quagmire, sinking deeper every day, and universally viewed by Iraqis and most everyone else as occupiers, enablers of a horrible sectarian civil war.

Periodically we hear, amid all the reports of car bombings, death squads, spiraling violence and general chaos, charges that "the media aren't telling the real story. There are a lot of good things happening. We're doing a lot of good things for the Iraqi people. You just aren't reporting it." The complaint typically comes from a frustrated public affairs officer for the U.S. military or State Dept. He or she wonders why reporters focus more on bombings and body counts than on all the good things that are happening.

Turns out that those good things may not be so good after all. Today's N.Y. Times reports that: Inspectors for a federal oversight agency have found that in a sampling of eight projects that the United States had declared successes, seven were no longer operating as designed because of plumbing and electrical failures, lack of proper maintenance, apparent looting and expensive equipment that lay idle.

Reporter James Glanz recounts a depressing tale of squandered funds, botched projects and finally evidence of the cultural disconnect between the occupying force and the local populace. "Most of the problems seemed unrelated to sabotage stemming from Iraq's parlous security situation, but instead were the product of poor initial construction, petty looting, a lack of any maintenance and simple neglect," he reports. More and more, it seems, we are part of the problem, not the solution.

Bowen

The audit by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction focuses on eight projects worth about $150 million. OSIGIR chief Stuart Bowen, an ENR 2006 newsmaker said that the sample is a small part of a $30-billion reconstruction effort, but that it raises concerns. Anyone want to bet that these eight broken projects are just the tip of the iceberg.

Ted Turner used to say: either lead, follow or get out of the way. The administration over the last four years has proved that in Iraq it can't lead. I can't imagine it would be willing to follow anyone. Therefore it must be time to get out of the way.

To hear what I'm talking about in a song, go to the iTunes store. Spend 99 cents to download the Burns Sisters song Bring Them Home. The spoken coda is as powerful an argument as I've heard in a long time.

May 9, 2007

I'm sorry so many of you are opposed to Mr. Wright's views. I'm here to assure you that this war is in the best interest of every American. Here, I can prove it.

Uncle Sam

May 9, 2007

Spoken like a TRUE patriot! Thanks for your excellent commentary. Too bad the rest of this industry won't wake up and smell the coffee. If you don't think this misguided war is ruining the US economy (other than for Halliburton, Blackstone Security and the rest of the thugs profiting from the Bush war machine), you've got your head where the sun doesn't shine.

Albert F.

May 8, 2007

Your take on Iraq ( war on Terror) is unbeleivable. Do you people think we should hunker down in our bunkers & this will go away. Have you not read the recent ranting from the muslims, "kill all Americans & Jews". This is not because we are in Iraq, this is a continuation of a religious war that has been going on for over a 1000 yrs., only much more dangerous, if they get nukes your butt with the rest of us will burn. Why in the hell can't you people see what is going on , all you are doing is playing into their hands. We lost more people on 9/11 than Pearl Harbor, thank God you peacenicks were not around then. Vote for those nut cases running for president and then dig yourself a shelter. You people are just like Neville Chamberlain, please get your group together go to the middle east & join the terroist in their holy war.

Paul W. Vogt

May 8, 2007

For what it is worth, according to another ENR item, this is what the IG report stated:

IG Says Most Projects Done But Corruption Persists
5/2/2007
By Bruce Buckley

With nearly all U.S. funds for Iraq reconstruction committed toward projects, work continues to struggle toward completion, according to a report by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The quarterly report, dated April 30, says that more than 98% of the $21 billion in U.S. funds allocated for Iraq rebuilding have been obligated for projects, with more than 84% actually spent.

Most scheduled projects have been completed, according to the report, with most of the remaining ones expected to be done by the end of 2007. Certain sectors, however, are performing better than others.

Educational facilities and transportation projects remain largely on track. All but one of the 810 schools under the current plan have been completed. Ninety-six of 98 railroad projects are finished, while 237 of 285 road and bridge projects are finished. Thirty-nine road and bridge projects are under way and nine have not started.

Health-care projects continue to be a sore spot, with only 15 of 141 primary health-care centers complete and 126 ongoing. Slightly more than half of the 30 hospital jobs have been completed to date.

Power projects also are lagging amid regular blackouts in many parts of the country. Fewer than half of the 56 transmission projects have been finished and nearly a quarter of the 425 planned distribution projects remain unfinished.

In water infrastructure, 883 of 1,001 clean-water projects are done, while 55 of 67 sewer projects are finished.

Reconstruction efforts are proceeding despite continued setbacks caused by security concerns and corruption. According to the SIGIR report, the Iraq Commission on Public Integrity estimates that $5 billion is lost annually to corruption. The report notes that the Iraqi government is hampering efforts to combat corruption through a 1971 law reinstated by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The prime minister's office has ordered the commission not to refer cases to an investigative court that involves a minister or former minister without the prime minister's consent. The U.S. Iraq Reconstruction Management Office claims that ministers have stopped investigations on 48 cases under the law, according to the SIGIR report.

D. Arnold

May 8, 2007

I am highly offended by the high handed assumption that because I use the professional resource ENR I am in the least interested in your very misguided and misinformed political views. Please stick to the engineering information that you are being paid to provide, and stop trying to do political editorials.

Mary M.

May 5, 2007

I am surprised and disappointed that ENR, a respected professional trade publication, would imply endorsement by e-mail distribution of this political screed to its customers. There are plenty of places on the web to express such opinions. ENR is not one of them. I will forward a link to this to McGraw Hill President Norbert Young and see if he thinks this it is appropriate to be e-mailing this to its customers.

A.J. Cers

May 4, 2007

ENR is a fine engineering publication and NOT the place for an editorial to be venting against the Bush Administration for the situation in Iraq. Be that said, I would urge your editor to do some additional investigating into just why the French, Russians and Germans have not supported our position. Do you think that investments and the Oil for Food scam just may have influenced this? Remember also that military intellengence throughout the world held a consensus that WMD did in fact exist. Exactly what qualifies? Maybe the chemical weapons found in Syria that avoided a plot against Jordan?

Iraq is not a clinical engineering problem. It is about people and a willingness to help those who strive against tyrany.

Have you forgotten about how long it took our young nation to get our feet on the ground?

Kent A. Munro

May 4, 2007

I truly appreciate your forthright commentary. I am sharing it with my friends & associates. I have three words to add "Investigate & Impeach."

Rodger Caldwell

May 4, 2007

Hogwash. Support our troops until we bring them home! Then if you want to open your mouth, ok, until then, put a lid on it and be a patriot.

Duane Meyer

May 4, 2007

Besides distorted, anti-Bush rhetoric inappropriate for a respected publication, and the twisting of the facts (I've been to Iraq 5 times - how much on-the-ground experience does he have?) does "Andy" also get a cut of the record he's plugging, with such poetic, germane lyrics as "on a secret flight draped with a flag a pair of boots and a name tag it's all the family gets"?

Is this reflective of your company's philosophy?

Pat W.

I've been to Iraq three times. I receive no cut from the Burns Sisters' excellent record. The views expressed in my blog are my own.

AGW
ENR.com

May 4, 2007

Your political bias is blatant and your greatest hinderance to seeing any progress for what it is. Firstly, the premis for war did not hinge on WMD - get over it. Going after a murderous tyrant that killed millions, and sponsored terrorists was the reason. And the millions of proud purple fingers is testimony of march of the progress of liberty. Liberty is always paid for with blood, and those who don't know this will be defeated by those who do. And, the war was over in 3 weeks. The current conflict is the war on Terror Inc. - this is where the terrorists themselves say they are going to make their stand. Why are we not out of Iraq yet? Because war is not like a pizza - if it is not ready in 30 minutes it's free. We are also still in Germany, Kosovo, Vietnam, Korea. War has one good purpose, to win. To defeat evil. If you cannot see this, then you are unable to distinguish good from evil. Wake up.

Martin Rhead
Gibbs Gage

May 4, 2007

Sounds to me like more of "How much can I discredit the Bush Administration" spun into construction news. Please, save the political agenda for political venues.

Michael Hughes

May 4, 2007

I just signed up for a subscription to ENR-a noteworthy and valuable source for all news on construction here in the US and abroad. After reading your rantings about failures adnauseam and noticing that you represent the SENIOR editorial staff- maybe I made a mistake. No matter the disclaimers that ENR is not responsible for opinions, blah, blah, blah. I think it is disgusting that you be allowed to spew garbage in the name (don't tell me I've heard it before) Free Speech and facts garnered from the likes of the NY Times.

Of course there are problems with a lot of the work---just as there is in NEW YORK City and anywhere else on the Globe.

I've worked in Construction Risk Management for over 15 years and have experienced and seen first hand all the very Good and all the very Bad...and What are You doing on a daily basis to contribute in a positive way to our time here on Earth? You make grand statments chiding us to "bet" on what the results might be on All the work that has gone on in Iraq!! That is an insult to the dedicated contractors that are working every Single day, under very difficult work enviroments as well as schedules, to make a difference to the future of Iraq. Whether you agree or not with this war, as an American and further as part of the Construction industry that pays your salary, I would hope you would use your platform to Promote the Good Works that our men and women in Construction and in Safety are trying to bring to a country fraught with terror and hopelessness for far too long.

I put in 16 hour days trying to make a difference for contractors and for the public all across this Great Country. I work on not only Risk Transfer--but on Contractor and Owner Accountability. They need to get the job done right, on budget and on-time.....but, Most importantly, with Safety as the number One objective... Its very trying at times to get these objectives implemented with total dedication Here in NY City---just Imagine doing that same work with potential IED's around every corner?

Maybe YOU need to get out of the way and spend some more of your time listening to Itunes. You make me think of Crawlin by Linkin Park--try that one instead of spewing discourse and distrust of the collective efforts of the US and others.

Regards,
Joy Mack

May 4, 2007

As a business professional, I look to McGraw Hill Construction for insight into new construction trends and innovations. I find their reporting to be factual and responsible.

This piece does not offer any of the aforementioned qualities. It appears to be, at best, a weak attempt at political commentary void of any real concrete facts in favor of conjecture. If I truly was interested in this banter, I would pick up a tabloid or try to tune in to "Air America" if it still existed.

Respectfully,
Jon Detterline
President
Detterline Development Corp.
Detterline Construction Services, Inc.

May 4, 2007

What is it going to take for this administration to admit that this "war" was a stupid mistake. The sooner we leave this region it can start the process of repairing the damage we have done. There is no "victory" to be had. The U.S. is going to have to admit to its failure to justify this aggression.

David Noyes

May 4, 2007

I've always looked to ENR for solid technical information related to the architectural, engineering and construction professions. Leave the biased, political mumbo jumbo crap to the other rags and preserve the journalistic integrity of an otherwise fine publication!

William Williams