1.7 billion USD. That was the estimated total cost by the American taxpayer to rebuild Iraq. This was in April 2003, a month after the world was startled by Bush's unilateral decision to invade Iraq.
Andrew Natsios of the Agency for International Development (USAID) told Ted Koppel of Nightline that another $700 million dollars would be used to supplement the budget for humanitarian projects.
And then the reality sinks in.
Joseph Stiglitz says the real costs so far to the American tax payer is more likely around three trillion dollars. With one trillion dollars you can provide 540 million children with health care for a year.
And while there is talk of more security in the troubled regions of Iraq, many if not most, still lack the basic necessities. Inadequate electricity and clean water and no sewage systems are the daily realities. Residents in Baghdad are disillusioned with the security improvements. People have given up hope in any American solution.
Then there is Fallujah. Destroyed in 2004, the US then committed itself to rebuild it. Four years and 100,000,000 USD later…a labyrinth of useless sewage pipes.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will be releasing footage on October 29 documenting the grave living conditions of ordinary Iraqis. The footage will be available at the ICRC FTP site or you can also request it by contacting Jan Powell at +41 22 730 25 11 or by email at jpowell.gva at icrc.org.
