THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS SLOW TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES FOR ITS PEOPLE
Lack of fuel and parts, and poor Iraqi governance, have kept the brand new power plant offline. The $350 million Musayyib gas power plant in southern Baghdad could provide enough power to run roughly the equivalent of 400,000 Iraqi homes. Instead, it is emblematic of the large challenges facing the military's most important non-combat counterinsurgency tool: the provision of clean water, working sewage systems, and electric power to a population hungry for them. It has been plagued by a shortage of fuel to run it, in part because the Ministry of Oil is focused on exporting fuel to raise revenues instead of using it at home. And it has ignored infrastructure problems. Regional and sectarian politics also play a role in the distribution of power. Because little of the power distribution network is run by computers - it's typically men sitting in substations and circuit shacks - the distribution of power is often determined by whoever has the biggest gun. In September, Iraqi's had an average of 12 hours per day, down from 16 in March of 2004. [CS Monitor, 11/16/07]
SECTARIANISM IS HINDERING POLITICAL RECONCILIATION
Sadr MP blasts new de-Baathification law. Fallah Hassan Chanchal, a senior member of parliament for Sadr City, blasted a new draft law aimed at integrating former members of Saddam Hussein's regime into government, saying it would reward the ousted dictator's "agents" at the expense of his "victims." A government spokesman announced on Wednesday that Iraq's cabinet has approved a redraft of a law that would allow lower-ranking members of Saddam's Baath party to return to public office. The bill will set up an independent Justice and Accountability Commission which will recognise two categories of Baathists -- those in the lower ranks who committed no crimes and senior leaders who implemented the oppressive policies of the party. "The law recognises the rights of agents of Saddam Hussein, but not of the victims of Saddam Hussein," said Chanchal, who presides over parliament's de-Baathification Commission. [AFP, 11/16/07]
THE WAR CONTINUES TO BE MISMANAGED
Justice Dept. conducting criminal probes of Baghdad embassy contracts and other improprieties in Iraq. The Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into the awarding of the contract and related subcontracts in the troubled construction of the massive $736 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The embassy, which will be the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world, was originally budgeted at $592 million. But, amid accusations of poor planning and workmanship, the State Department recently announced that additions and changes to the original design will add $144 million to the cost. Embattled State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard also said Justice has "three investigations" involving Iraq, apparently referring to previously reported probes into alleged labor trafficking by First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co. -- the construction company awarded the embassy contract -- and alleged weapons smuggling by Blackwater Worldwide, which supplies security for the State Department. [Washington Post, 11/15/07]
VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO RAGE
Another educator is targeted. In west Baghdad, the principal of a girls' secondary school in the mainly Shi'a neighborhood of Kadhimiya was shot dead on her way to work by a man on a motorcycle, according to police and workers from her school. Last week, two teachers were shot dead in Baghdad. [Washington Post, 11/16/07]
IRANIAN WEAPONS SMUGGLING INTO IRAQ SEEMS TO BE DOWN
U.S. links drop in Iraq attacks to Iran. The military says there have been fewer bombings against American troops since Tehran pledged to curb arms flow across its border. "We have not seen any recent evidence that weapons continue to come across the border into Iraq," Maj. Gen. James Simmons said. Iran appears to be honoring an informal pledge to try to halt the smuggling of explosives and other weapons into Iraq, contributing to a decline in bombings by more than half since March, said Maj. Gen Simmons. "We believe that the initiatives and the commitments that the Iranians have made appear to be holding up." [Washington Post, 11/16/07]