Report sees gaps in US planning for Iraq's future

11.45am

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's planning for reconstruction in Iraq contains "significant gaps" that could undermine the prospects for US success, says a Washington think tank.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies said in a report that the areas of particular concern were policing during the first phase of a US occupation, paying for reconstruction and oversight of the Iraqi oil industry.

"The US government has made far-reaching promises to the Iraqi people about their future... The depth of the administration's plans and preparations in some reconstruction areas provide a measure of hope, but there are significant gaps that will result in ad hoc decisions and responses that could undermine eventual success," it said.

The report, entitled "Post-war Iraq: Are We Ready?," says the Bush administration does not appear to have planned for a multitude of tasks that will fall on its shoulders if it achieves its aim of overthrowing President Saddam Hussein.

It says there are signs the United States intends to use regular combat troops for "stabilisation" duties -- essentially policing -- but they have no training in that kind of work.

The United States has not discussed Iraq's external debt, which amounts to an estimated US$383 billion ($700 billion), and has not said what will happen to compensation claims linked to the Gulf War of 1991 and worth US$172 billion ($314 billion), it added.

"Experts contradict the administration's claims that oil revenue could be used to pay any significant portion of reconstruction costs, at least for several years," it added.

Former allies of the United States are reluctant to contribute to reconstruction as long as the United States intends to maintain political control over Iraq.

The United Nations cannot legally help with long-term reconstruction work unless the divided UN Security Council endorses a US and British occupation.

The Bush administration has said Iraq's oil belongs to the Iraqi people but it has given no indication of how the oil industry would be managed under US occupation.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq