Lantos: Iraq Reconstruction Mired in ‘Mud of Incompetence’
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday raked reconstruction efforts in Iraq as “mired in the mud of incompetence.”
Rep. Tom Lantos, a Democrat from California, said some American contractors are not accountable to anyone and have lined their pockets with American dollars.
But, Mr. Lantos also told a committee hearing the incompetence was no surprise, “knowing the administration’s abysmal track record on Iraq reconstruction planning.”
Testifying the record was a mixed one, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, Stuart Bowen Jr., said the program faced enormous challenges, especially an unstable security environment.
“There have been notable accomplishments,” but also significant shortfalls, he said.
But in a report three weeks ago, the special investigator reported that Iraqis would not be capable of managing reconstruction anytime soon. The report cited daily violence, corruption, and poor maintenance. The report said corruption among Iraqi officials appeared to be worsening.
