6139008-History-of-Money

conditions of their contract for water and electricity provision and why the U.S. government doesn't care. According to theSan Francisco Chronicle, USAID, which oversees Bechtel's contract, has "reduced expectations of what could be fixed, howlong repairs would take and how much money would be required." Good for Bechtel, but too bad for the people of Iraqwho are virtually without electricity or water and are living in sewage-filled streets. According to USAID's own reports, oneyear after the invasion "Baghdad's three sewage treatment plants, which together comprise three-quarters of the nation'ssewage treatment capacity, are inoperable, allowing the waste from 3.8 million people to flow untreated directly into theTigris River. In the rest of the country, most sewage treatment plants were only partially operational prior to the conflict,and shortage of electricity, parts and chemicals have exacerbated the situation. Water that is pumped through the systemis largely untreated, especially in South." The most extensive on-the-ground assessment of Iraq's water systems by DahrJamail for the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen reached the same conclusion. Drinking water throughout thecountry is in a crisis state, with some villages having no access to water while larger cities receive water approximately50% of the time. This has led to vast outbreaks of cholera, diarrhea, nausea and kidney stones, among other diseases.ElectricityThe same condition exists for Iraq's electricity ‚ reconstruction of which is also Bechtel's responsibility. According to amemo by an anonymous U.S. government official written to the CPA in early March 2004, there is "no consistency" inpower flows in Iraq. "Street lights function irregularly and traffic lights not at all" "Electricity in Baghdad fluctuatingbetween three hours, on and off, in rotation, and four hours on and off." U.S. Airforce Colonel Sam Gardiner, author of a2002 study of the likely effect US bombardment would have on Iraq's power system, recently told the Village Voice, "Icontinue to get very upset about the electricity issue... Frankly, if we had just given the Iraqis some baling wire and alittle bit of space to keep things running, it would have been better. But instead we've let big US companies go in withplans for major overhauls." Thus, while Bechtel reports that they have "returned electricity generation to pre-conflictlevels," this claim is not supported by the U.S. government or Iraqis themselves. Power outages lasting for 24 hours a dayare still more often the rule than the exception. The Daura power plant, Baghdad's largest, which should supply one thirdof the city's generating capacity was producing only 10% as recently as December. Helmut Doll, the German site managerfor Babcok Power, as subcontractor of Siemens, told Newsweek that "Bechtel only came and took photos. We can't judgeBechtel's work progress because they're not here." The same story is repeated across Iraq. Either they haven't seenBechtel, or the work that has been provided is inadequate and intermittent. Bechtel representatives have admitted asmuch, citing the constant sabotage of their work and their ill-preparedness going in, commenting that they did not realizehow intertwined the electricity, water and sewage systems were, greatly complicating their repair efforts. Of course, theIraqis knew this and could have told them ‚ if they had asked. Iraqis point out that after the first Gulf War, they were ableto restore electricity in just three months. Mohsen Hassan, technical director for power generation at the Iraqi ministry ofelectricity, told Southern Exposure Magazine, "We, the Iraqi engineers, can repair anything, but we need money andspare parts and so far Bechtel has provided us with neither. The only thing that the company has given us so far ispromises."Schools and HospitalsBechtel has also failed in its contractual obligations to restore hospitals and schools in Iraq. Bechtel repeatedly cites the1595 schools it has "rehabilitated" in Iraq. However, this is less than a fifth of Iraq's 10,000 schools. And, as Newsweekreported, "many of the rehabilitated schools don't look ready for the morning bell." The constant complaint from IraqiMinistry of Education officials and headmistresses and ministers of schools that Bechtel has worked on, is that the work iseither non-existent or shoddy, often putting students health and safety at risk. An internal study by U.S. Army personnelcited in Southern Exposure, strongly criticized Bechtel's attempts to renovate Iraqi schools. Comments such as thefollowing were common: "the new fans are cheap and burned out immediately upon use. All inspected were alreadybroke." "Lousy paint job. Major clean-up work required. Bathrooms in poor condition." Southern Exposure visited fourBaghdad schools all listed as renovated by Bechtel. They found rain leaking through ceilings, shorting out power, newpaint peeling and floors that had not been completely repaired. New brass taps and doors painted, but toilets and sinksthat had not been touched. At Hawa School, for example, the headmistress showed the authors toilets where a new watersystem had been installed, pipes, taps and a motor to pump the water. However, the motor didn't work, so the toiletsreeked with unflushed sewage. The conditions reported in Bechtel hospitals are similar ‚ shoddy or non-existent workaccompanied with desperate and unmet human needs. The Bush Administration is not even living up to its ownrequirements under national treatment because it is treating foreign providers differently. The U.S. has banned countriesthat did not participate in the invasion for profiting off of the invasion. Thus, in many cases, repairs that could beperformed quickly to the water and electrical systems are left undone because they require parts from countries such asRussia, Germany or France.4. Unrestricted Repatriation of ProfitsOrder #39 authorizes foreign investors to "transfer abroad without delay all funds associated with [their] investment."Thus, they can put their money wherever they like and take it out whenever they want to, "without delay." Nothing needbe reinvested locally to service the floundering Iraqi economy. Nothing need be targeted to help specifically damagedregions, communities or services. All the money can go home with the foreign owners and they can take out theirinvestments at any time. U.S. corporations are already reaping staggering revenues from their Iraqi operations. However,due to Order #39, not a cent of this money need be reinvested in Iraq. Halliburton, with contracts worth as much asThe Hidden History Of Money & New World Order Usury Secrets Revealed at last! Page 488