Today’s MSM 2-minute pessimism on Iraq brought to you by Reuters
posted at 7:47 am on July 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Readers could guess for themselves what Reuters’ take on Basra would be from the headline: Peace dividend in Iraq’s Basra faces obstacles. Just two months after the Iraqi Army sent Moqtada al-Sadr’s militia running, Reuters reports that the economy has caught fire, with new businesses opening, property values escalating, and people free to enjoy the fruits of honest labor. However, Reuters focuses on the negatives, including that the entire infrastructure needs haven’t been completely addressed in three months:
Three months after a security crackdown in Iraq’s oil capital of Basra, there are signs of economic revival. But investment to help secure the peace faces hurdles from bureaucratic inertia, lack of technical skills and foreign businesses’ uncertainty about whether the calm will hold. ….
But business owners said decrepit infrastructure, including electricity limited to a few hours a day, was the biggest hindrance, especially during summer heat that hit 43 degrees Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) this week. …
And local government spending and development is hampered by the lack of planning and technical expertise, a hangover from decades of top-down control under the late dictator Saddam Hussein.
Agencies and local governments can face delays in disbursement of funds. With Basra’s provincial budget climbing to $300 million this year, inexperienced officials are struggling to manage and spend it, with many bids for contracts failing to meet specifications, the PRT source said.
Yes, and all of this was going to be fixed in twelve weeks? Basra was in the grip of Mahdi Army terrorists for years, terrorists who chased out the competent and the experienced in favor of those loyal to Sadr. The Mahdis, in case anyone needs a reminder, didn’t put much stock in investment, construction, or urban planning.
The complaint about the “lack of planning” is actually the most revealing in the piece. The local and national government have had twelve weeks to create a plan for a city of millions. Does Ian Simpson believe that any nation could generate a plan for a city the size of Basra in that time? His article notes the inexperience of officials in managing a $300 million budget and their struggle to spend it, but shouldn’t they conduct the planning before spending it — and wouldn’t that account for the “struggle” that Simpson reports?
Before we declare Basra a failure, how about giving them a chance to succeed? In fact, that could easily describe the media’s entire Iraq narrative over the last five years — writing it off without waiting to see how the story would actually end.
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Why ruin a perfectly good story with all of the facts, when just half will do.
Gwillie on July 11, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Isn’t California still waiting for it’s electrical grid to be upgraded? Those folks better work on it themselves, if they keep whining they will get the U.S. Congress involved. We all know that they don’t really want that. Remember what President Reagan said the scariest words are.
Cindy Munford on July 11, 2008 at 8:02 AM
Isn’t NOLA still struggling through rebuilding after Katrina? And NOLA was never technically under the control of armed thugs, just corrupt politicians and cops. Hrm. . . .anyone want to bet that Basra solves their problems before NOLA does?
Nugai on July 11, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Hey, this is the age of instant gratification. Microwave ovens and DVR, baby! Look at us. Why, we had those twin towers rebuilt in six months. Didn’t we? I know they were talking about something at ground zero taking six months. I don’t recall. It was a long time ago. Brittney and Jamie Lynn have both had babies since then. How do you expect me to keep up?
Kafir on July 11, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Twelve weeks? Reuters correspondent Ian Simpson should go to Canada and try and get hip surgery. Twelve weeks is a blink of a bureaucrats eye.
percysunshine on July 11, 2008 at 8:14 AM
Our own Congress has taken some 40 years to address the issue of of failing SS system here in America, and still counting. Will Reuters announce the American Congress a failure… The Iraqi government is out performing the American government hands down; if this were a race, the American government would be the snail matched up against the rabbit. The real story here is the complete failure of the American government to address key issues (such as the price of oil & protection of our borders), while seemingly having NO timetable for achievement.
Screw Reuters and all other members of the MSM. These fools should spend some time facing up to their own failures.
Keemo on July 11, 2008 at 8:24 AM
You don’t suppose JetBlast has a slightly different take on Basra, do you?
steveegg on July 11, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Defeat is worth fighting for! (Reuters motto)
This goes hand in hand with our commie buddy Gareth Porter over at the Asia Times this morning… Bush Outfoxed
One way or another the press will not allow victory to ruin our lives.
Limerick on July 11, 2008 at 8:25 AM
I’ll second that. Well said.
fogw on July 11, 2008 at 8:59 AM
God created the world in seven days what’s the beef here- just saying!
Seriously, the MSM is slowly killing itself off and stories like this are not helping.
highhopes on July 11, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Bush Outfoxed
And here we thought it was about Oil.
WoosterOh on July 11, 2008 at 9:07 AM
After 5 years, Reuters is still struggling to cover Iraqi news accurately. Will they be able to pull it together, or is this simply impossible?
Merovign on July 11, 2008 at 9:33 AM
I dunno… Just as a differing point of view, I’ve seen a lot, lot worse from Reuters.
To me, the article gave a pretty good look at the situation in the area, and I’d call this the money quote: “People are now looking forward to the next phase, the next stage of their lives, when Basra will become more prosperous.”
Also this: “And local government spending and development is hampered by the lack of planning and technical expertise, a hangover from decades of top-down control under the late dictator Saddam Hussein.”
Not a blasting of the evil US, but a recognition that the problems are the result of Saddam, the dictator no less.
Again, to me the article said that progress is obvious, that there’s a lot of work to do and problems to solve, but that the people in Basra are in a position and a frame of mind to do the work and solve the problems.
Hard for me to beef with that.
Typhoon on July 11, 2008 at 9:34 AM
The story is tilted slightly negative, but they are quickly running out of negatives and are grabbing at straws now.
whitetop on July 11, 2008 at 9:51 AM
I’d be afraid to take that bet. Nuff said!
TooTall on July 11, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Where is Basra’s nuclear energy program? They haven’t built any reactors yet?
Steve McCullough on July 11, 2008 at 9:58 AM
… I’ve seen a lot, lot worse from Reuters. – Ty
Agreed.
I put some of the blame on the Bush Admin. for not working to counter the media spin. How hard would it be to give weekly updates on the progress? The military does it, but who sees it?
Tony737 on July 11, 2008 at 10:02 AM
The authorities in Oslo have spent years just trying to implement a new public transit ticketing system. Yet somehow Norwegians, like Reuters, expect that Iraq’s entire government and infrastructure should be in place over night. I can’t wait until Obama is president, then each and every brick put into place in Iraq will be heralded as a historic accomplishment.
Seixon on July 11, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Agreed.
My take is that Bush has been remarkably successful as an executive, but a disaster as a leader. While it’s one thing to not be ruled by polls and to have courage of your convictions, it’s also another thing–if you would lead–to lead.
He seems to have given up on leading at so many junctures and just taken solace in the belief that history will vindicate him.
Which it likely will, but it’s still his job to make his case for his actions, and I wish he’d done a better job.
Typhoon on July 11, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Time to get a little perspective. The Maliki government did more for Basra in three months than the British did in four years. Not to knock the British, who fought bravely, but were limited by political correctness. The Maliki government also did more for Basra in three months than Saddam did in 30 years.
But Reuters can’t say that, because the reason Maliki is in and Saddam is out is George W. Bush, and Reuters can NEVER say anything good about George W. Bush. It’s against their religion.
Steve Z on July 11, 2008 at 10:31 AM
That what the neo-conservatives told everyone to expect. But not only is the government not functioning properly the war – specifically the fighting – hasn’t stopped yet and continues on indefinetly.
aengus on July 11, 2008 at 11:29 AM
aengus on July 11, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I’m sure after we run away things will be much better in Basra. I’ve heard that the Iranians are thinking of opening a “Club Dead” to increase tourism in the area!
Obama or Die
dmann on July 11, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Rebuilding and strengthening Iraq will pay off for Islam in the end.
BL@KBIRD on July 11, 2008 at 12:38 PM
This is not a defense of the Mahdi or Sadr, but I might remind that Sadr wasn’t the only militia in town with corrupt politicians sucking the life and money out of Basra. Some of those folks are still there like the Badr/SCIRI (or what ever they call themselves today).
Go back and read Steven Vincent’s “red zone” blog for the relevant info prior to his death. Now, the atmosphere might be freer, but my guess is the blood sucking pols are still in place. In which case, reading Steven, there was plenty of reconstruction money going in there, it just wasn’t being used for that most of the time.
Kat_Mo on July 11, 2008 at 1:59 PM
But that has been the nature of the leftest MSM. Opinions only apply, not facts.
Kini on July 11, 2008 at 2:29 PM
I’m sure they’ll learn fast enough how to spend other peoples money. Politicians seem to have a knack for that.
Squiggy on July 11, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I wonder what they would say about the job the Mayor of New Orleans is doing 3 YEARS
KW64 on July 12, 2008 at 11:29 AM
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