Jan 2/But the end is near

"The U.S. never intended to completely rebuild Iraq," Brig. Gen. William McCoy, the Army Corps of Engineers commander overseeing the work, told reporters at a recent news conference. In an interview this past week, McCoy said: "This was just supposed to be a jump-start."
- US has end in sight on Iraq rebuilding (Washington Post)

It's only the second day of the new year but for the situation in Iraq, at least, the end has begun. Well, not the whole situation, just the US' financial involvement in it. Apparently the gov't isn't going to ask for any additional reconsctruction funds next budget. Good news? For some, but then look at this quote:

"When the last of the $18.4 billion is spent, U.S. officials in Baghdad have made clear, other foreign donors and the fledgling Iraqi government will have to take up what authorities say is tens of billions of dollars of work yet to be done merely to bring reliable electricity, water and other services to Iraq's 26 million people."

Interesting stuff I think, and it's going to cause a big to do over in Europe that we probably won't hear about on this side of the world. Read the full story here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10667278/?CM=Take3&CE=linkHilites

• Mood: awake and refusing to be 'morning sick'
  
• Music: the muted sounds of street traffic