The Bush administration asked Congress on Tuesday
for permission to transfer nearly $3.5 billion from Iraqi water, sewer
and electricity projects to pressing security, economic and electoral
programs, acknowledging that increasing violence has forced a sharp
shift in its rebuilding effort. Including previous reallocations, the
administration hopes to redirect more than 20 percent of $18.4 billion
in reconstruction funds to cope with an escalating insurgency and the
glacial pace of rebuilding. With two weeks left in the fiscal year, and
11 months after Congress approved the money, only $1.1 billion of it
has been spent, because of attacks, contracting problems and other
unforeseen issues, according to figures released by the State Department. [more ]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.
]