Despite Billions Spent, Rebuilding Incomplete - washingtonpost.com

Despite Billions Spent, Rebuilding Incomplete - washingtonpost.com: "'What reconstruction?' Othman said in an interview last week. 'Today we are drinking untreated water from a plant built decades ago that was never maintained. The electricity only visits us two hours a day. And now we are going backwards. We cook on the firewood we gather from the forests because of the gas shortage.'

Othman's view is shared by many across the country. In interviews last week, Iraqis expressed frustration not just with the United States but with Iraqi leaders, too, for pocketing aid money that was supposed to be for everyone.

'When the occupation came and we heard the promises, we said, 'Now the conditions in the city will improve.' But things got worse,' said Ahmed Mohammed, 45, a teacher in the central province of Salah al-Din. 'We know that large amounts of money have been dedicated to the city, but they were all stolen.'"