Text 18120, 57 rader
Skriven 2005-12-07 10:49:24 av Roy Witt (1:1/22)
  Kommentar till text 18066 av Paul Sanders (3:633/104)
Ärende: Collateral Damage
=========================
07 Dec 05 19:18, Paul Sanders wrote to SHANNON TALLEY:


 ST>> First, the people of Iraq had "nothing" before we began their
 ST>> liberation and I have no idea what makes you think they did.

 PS> pre 1990 (you know, before the santions against Iraq) Iraq was a
 PS> reasonable place (economicially)
 PS> 2005 it is a wasteland.

Other than a very large requirement for electricity and water to supply
the newly aquired refrigerators, TVs and actually having electric lights,
not to mention their new bath tubs and showers now requiring a constant
water supply, yes, the desert is still there. However, with  35,250 sq km
of irregated land from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, there's more than
enough water to go around for now. Of course, this could change in the
near future if Turkey excercises it's rights to both of those rivers.

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally
provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait
in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage
from military action by an international coalition beginning in January
1991 drastically reduced economic activity.

Although government policies supporting large military and internal
security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime
hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program (note:
not the USAs) beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the
average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil
in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts.

In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under
the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. The drop
in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown
and lower oil prices.

Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies
and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living
standards were still well below the pre-1991 level, but any recent
estimates have a wide range of error.

The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted
in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure.
Although a comparatively small amount of capital plant was damaged during
the hostilities, looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined
efforts to rebuild the economy.

Despite continuing political uncertainty, the Iraqi Interim Government
has founded the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and has
successfully concluded a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club. The
high percentage gain estimated for GDP in 2004 is the result of starting
from a low base.


Roy
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