So, so bad reports the New York Times’ James Glanz and Campbell Robertson. A new GAO report said that thanks to oil revenues Iraq will have a multibillion dollar budget surplus. Sounds great– since Iraq desperately needs to pour money into improving its infrastructure and security.

Except only one percent of that money is going to projects like installing electrical systems and giving weapons to security personnel. Ninety percent of the government’s budget is for "operating expenses" which seems to mainly include the salary of govt. officials.

So why is this is a story about U.S. federal agencies? Because the Pentagon and State Dept. have spent $23.2 billion in infrastructure and security reconstruction since the Iraq invasion. Yet the Iraqis themselves have spent $3.9 billion during this time.

The scathing audit can probably be wielded to support a range of policy agendas. But one take away is pretty clear: the Iraqi people are being rooked.-MB

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