[CptSternn]

Originally Posted by Binkie

First article is out of date. Never the less, here's one comparative of the actual outputs and figures in pre-war Iraq vs. 2004 conditions:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0319/p01s03-woiq.html

Pre-war unemployment: 50-60%
2004: 45% (28% as of 2005)

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/feature/Mar/060319oif.html

"The U.S. Embassy and the Government of Iraq continue to address the issue of Iraqi unemployment, today, about 1.5 million Iraqis are employed under reconstruction efforts, working on schools, clinic, roads and numerous other infrastructure projects, and the overall national unemployment dropped in 2005 to 28% (as reported by COSIT) or 12-18% (as estimated by MNF-I)."

Pre-war health budget: 16 million
2004: 120 million

Pre-war portable water supply: 13 million liters per day
2004: 22 million liters per day

Pre-war electrical peak: 4,400 megawatts
2004: 4,200

Electrical actually went on to improve that year to average 5,000 megawatts, as cited by the Defense Department HERE.

"Electricity production in the country averages about 5,000 megawatts, a total that services an estimated 15 million Iraqi homes and exceeds the pre-war level of 4,400 megawatts, officials said."



Second article has the guy talking about electricity in Baghdad. While they don't enjoy 20 hours of electricity anymore, other parts of the country now see more when they used to see only one hour or less. The electrical distribution has been evenly divided amongst Iraqis, where it once was not. Power output for the entire country is higher than it was pre-war.

If you don't believe me, scroll up a little on that same Wiki article you cited, Sternn. You'll find this:

"On July 28, 2005, Iraq's Electricity Minister announced that Iraq's electricity supply had risen to above pre-war levels."

Can also be confirmed here:

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/files/a...article623.htm

"Iraq electricity surpasses pre-war levels

July 28, 2005

Iraq's electricity supply has risen above pre-war levels to 5,350 megawatts (MW) despite sabotage, boosted by hydroelectric power and more imports from Iran, Syria and Turkey, the minister in charge said on Thursday.

"Now electricity has reached a record after we broke 5,350 megawatts a few days ago for the first time since the war," Electricity Minister Mohsen Shalash told Reuters.

Iraq's emergency moves had eased electricity shortage during summer when temperatures can rise above 50 degrees centigrade (122 Fahrenheit), Shalash said in an interview in Amman during a stopover on his way to Iraq."

That report came just days before the statement you cited was made. Kinda contradictory, eh?

From USAID:

"2. Expanding Access to Electricity: In 2002, Baghdad had access to electricity 24 hours a day; the rest of Iraq was limited to 3-6 hours.

* Currently, all 18 governorates receive nearly 14 hours of electricity daily, an incredible improvement for a country emerging from decades of conflict and little investment.
* USAID efforts have added 1,400 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to the national electrical grid, expanding access to 4.2 million Iraqis throughout most of Iraq. "



Third article is based on statistics from 2004 and doesn't compare anything against pre-war stats. I don't see any 90% figures anywhere in this article either. It also states that 3 out of 4 Iraqis even HAVE electricity (whereas the other one-fourth also have electricity, but have no problems with it). So 25% somehow translates into 90..... how?

From USAID:

"3. Providing Potable Water: Many parts of Iraq had no access to or provision of clean potable water. Indeed many of Iraq's waterways were contaminated with refuse and sewage.

* Over 4 million Iraqis who had no clean drinking water in 2002 now have safe, potable water piped to their homes following USAID efforts to refurbish water treatment plants in 15 cities.
* USAID is also providing plant-level operations and maintenance (O&M) training at major water and wastewater plants nationwide to ensure that these plants remain functioning."



Last article, Wiki also had some stuff to say about this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_of_Iraq

"After (with some international support) overthrowing the previous Iraqi government, the US has sent aid to restore electric service knocked out during combat. The Associated Press says that electrical power generation and distribution, curtailed due to combat operations and sabotage, has been restored to above prewar levels."

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ory?id=1378209

"Facts & Figures: Average Amount of Electricity Generated (Megawatts):

Pre-War (Estimates):

Nationwide: 3,958

Baghdad: 2,500

January 2005:

Nationwide: 3,289

Baghdad: 985

September 2005:

Nationwide: 4,247

Baghdad: NA (last available April 2005: 854)

Source: Brookings Institution, Iraq Index."

http://www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed...n/20060124.htm

"As a result, not only are more schools being rebuilt and health clinics reopened but water and sanitation services also are gradually improving, irrigation canals are operating at prewar levels, and almost 90 percent of the demand for household fuels for cooking and heating is being met."

http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/accomplishments/watsan.html

"USAID has rehabilitated sewage treatment plants, expanding access to sewage treatment to over 5.1 million urban Iraqis, processing 315.3 million gallons daily. Over 2.4 million Iraqis who had no clean drinking water in 2002 now have access to safe, potable water following USAID efforts to refurbish and expand 19 water treatment plants in five cities. By 2006, water treatment service will be provided to over 3.3 million Iraqis. Providing clean water and efficient sewage treatment has greatly improved sanitation and contributed to a decrease in waterborne disease. USAID is also providing plant-level operations and maintenance (O&M) training at major water and wastewater plants nationwide to ensure that these plants remain functioning."

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/feature/Mar/060319oif.html

"Before March 2003, only 5.5 million of Iraq's 25 million citizens had access to a safe and stable water supply. Iraq's cities suffered from inadequate sewage systems, today nineteen potable water treatment facilities have been built or rehabilitated, providing a standard level of service to about 2.7 million more Iraqis."

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=1044

"By October 2003, U.S. government efforts rehabilitated electric power capacity to produce peak capacity of 4,518 MW, greater than the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Peak production reached 5,365 MW in August 2004 and a peak of 5,389 MW in July 2005."

So there you go.

Wow, remember this post? When you claimed Iraq was going SO GOOD and that they were BETTER OFF NOW THAN BEFORE THE WAR due to the USAID (readin: bush administration) figures?

Turns out, all that was PROPOGANDA spewed by the bush admin and now we look back and see also posted here by BINKIE. I'm going through the Iraq thread now to bring up all the good posts involving how well the war is going and the 'proof' you posted to prove it...