That is why it is irrelevant whether there is electricity, or that hospitals function or not. Those are secondary considerations. Nice to have. But not worth putting in the plan.
Sarmaz.. you seem to imply that there is less electricity being produced in Iraq than prior to the war, and that's just not the case:
ameinfo.com
Due to the efforts of all parties taking part in rebuilding the Iraqi electricity system, power output exceeded pre-war levels for the first time during the month of October. Output reached a peak load of 4,518MW on October 6, compared with barely 3,200MW in September.
The achievement marks the first milestone in the plan to restore Iraq's ramshackle generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. Since October 1, USAID claims that Baghdad in specific has received an average of 1,241MW a day.
USAID has now set the ambitious plan to increase power output to 6,000MW by May 2004 while the Ministry of Electricity also hopes to increase total production to 7000MW by June 2004 to provide for a five hours on and one hour off rationed schedule in the summer. This is in comparison to the current three hours on, three hours off being implemented throughout the country.
Despite these impressive achievements, plants are still working at much less than 50% of capacity. The country's eight large-scale thermal plants account for most of the installed capacity, which at full output could produce 5,415 MW of power. Gas turbines account for 2,181MW and hydro stations for a further 2,518MW of nameplate capacity.
Part of the problem is that Iraqis have been flocking to purchase appliances that place an even larger burden on the power grid and continue the shortages.
They aren't paying for the electricity, so we have the classis "Tragedy of the Commons" scenario occurring here..
Anyway, Israel's goal is accomplished. There is no reason to stay in Iraq. The US will kill a few more thousands of people then leave.
And what, pray tell, will be the result of a unilateral US withdrawal?
Hawk |
