Will the Commitment to Rebuild Iraq Go Unfulfilled?

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America's pre-war promise to rebuild Iraq is a case of easier said than done. Billions of US and Iraqi dollars have been spent, but crucial projects remain incomplete, in part because of sabotage and sectarian violence. There's also a story of waste and corruption. The Army Corps of Engineers says it's looking for emergency money from the US military and foreign donors. This week, the Washington Post reported that just 20 of 142 primary health centers will be completed, after two years and $200 million. The World Health Organization says that's a "shocking" development that will have an impact on the expectations of Iraqis and their trust in the future. We hear more from human-rights watchdogs, doctors, the Army Corps of Engineers and a former reconstruction advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority Making News: Despite Katrina, Insurance Companies Make a KillingDespite Katrina and other disasters last year, US insurance companies made record profits. But they insist they still need to increase premiums. Peter Gosselin, who reported the story in today's Los Angeles Times, says that the industry reduced its financial exposure by shifting risk to re-insurers, policy holders and the public.Reporter's Notebook: France's Political Crisis GrowsIn France today, demonstrators blocked roads, rail lines and postal delivery trucks in another day of protest over a controversial new law that would make it easier for employers to get rid of workers. We get an update on the street protests and political competition at the highest levels from Sebastian Rotella, who reports from Paris for the Los Angeles Times, and University of Paris Political Sociologist Pierre Birnbaum.
America's pre-war promise to rebuild Iraq is a case of easier said than done. Billions of US and Iraqi dollars have been spent, but crucial projects remain incomplete, in part because of sabotage and sectarian violence. There's also a story of waste and corruption. The Army Corps of Engineers says it's looking for emergency money from the US military and foreign donors. This week, the Washington Post reported that just 20 of 142 primary health centers will be completed, after two years and $200 million. The World Health Organization says that's a "shocking" development that will have an impact on the expectations of Iraqis and their trust in the future. We hear more from human-rights watchdogs, doctors, the Army Corps of Engineers and a former reconstruction advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority
  • Making News: Despite Katrina, Insurance Companies Make a Killing
    Despite Katrina and other disasters last year, US insurance companies made record profits. But they insist they still need to increase premiums. Peter Gosselin, who reported the story in today's Los Angeles Times, says that the industry reduced its financial exposure by shifting risk to re-insurers, policy holders and the public.
  • Reporter's Notebook: France's Political Crisis Grows
    In France today, demonstrators blocked roads, rail lines and postal delivery trucks in another day of protest over a controversial new law that would make it easier for employers to get rid of workers. We get an update on the street protests and political competition at the highest levels from Sebastian Rotella, who reports from Paris for the Los Angeles Times, and University of Paris Political Sociologist Pierre Birnbaum.

Gosselin's article on insurers' record gains in year of catastrophic loss

Iraq reconstruction, US AID on

Halliburton/Kellogg Brown and Root

Parsons (engineering and construction)

Washington Post article on failure to complete Iraqi health clinics

French Prime Minister de Villepin on First Job Act

Rotella's article on split over French labor law

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney