Complaints Greet Rice Deputy in Fallujah

[maddezmom]

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

FALLUJAH, Iraq - Undersecretary of State Robert Zoellick — on a surprise trip to Iraq to meet with newly elected government leaders — inspected reconstruction efforts in this former insurgent stronghold Wednesday and was promptly greeted with complaints by civic leaders of little progress.


The most senior Bush administration official to venture into the city since Marines captured it last fall, Zoellick had expected to tour a water pumping station and a bread-making factory to observe signs of the city's progress.


But Zoellick was confined to a caravan of armored transport vehicles — except for a meeting with Fallujah's civic leaders at a fortified military compound. Marines said the security situation in the city remained tenuous, although daily attacks were down.


Zoellick urged Iraqi citizens to lead efforts to reconstruct their own hometowns, even as the United States, its allies and the fledgling Iraqi democratic government assist.

~snip~
more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=3&u=/ap/20050413/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq

[DrDebug]

1. We destroy it; You rebuild it

"We can help, but you have to make it happen."

What happened to "You broke it; You fix it"?

[leftchick]

2. There you have it! It is their problem now....

~snip~

But there also were many signs — and statements — of Fallujah's needs.


Mounds of debris from crumpled structures filled each city block, and interim city council members expressed frustration about how long it was taking for residents to get reimbursement checks for their damaged homes. Some officials said residents weren't being paid enough compensation for all that had been destroyed.


They also complained of unsafe drinking water, an inadequate sewer system and little food aside from rationed goods. Residents fretted about not having enough jobs.


After listening intently, Zoellick told Fallujah's leaders: "I know it won't be easy. There will be many days of frustration, even threats. We can help, but you have to make it happen."

[DrDebug]

3. There's now a market, a service station and a baker

So that seems about right for a city of 250,000 people, right?