IRAQ: Baghdad's Green Zone also to suffer electricity blackouts

IRAQ: Baghdad's Green Zone also to suffer electricity blackouts

latimesblogs.latimes.com

Officials living in the Green Zone will have to endure the same electricity shortages as other Iraqis following a decision to ax their special privileges in the wake of violent protests over prolonged power outages.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Related News Links:
Iraq curbs protests as power crisis fuels fury
Dark days for Iraq as power crisis bites
Enourmous, Expensive U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
Green Zone

[edit on 27-6-2010 by Jakes51]

Apparently, there is going to be disruption to the cappuccino makers, no bubbles in the jacuzzis, Direct TV, and minor flaps to the meddling efforts of foreign diplomats, bureaucrats, and businessmen. No longer will there be exclusive rights to 24-hour access to electricity. Oh the humanity! Now they are going to get a little taste of the local fare for the first time, and on a daily basis.

The locals have been getting restless and are upset that the lights beyond the blast proof barriers of the Emerald City are on as they endure sweltering heat, food spoilage, and other inconveniences associated with constant disruptions to the makeshift electrical grid in Iraq. Iraqis have protested constant loss of power, which lasts through much of the day with only sporadic instances of power restoration.

What happened to the billions funneled into the country courtesy of the American taxpayer for infrastructure reconstruction? Probably lining the pockets of the corrupt Iraqi politician's and foreign contractors? What no oversight by the State Department and the United State's Congress? This situation is absolutely unacceptable, and people need to answer for it! Oh more singing to the choir, because money seems to be disappearing a heck of a lot lately, and no one in government seems to care.

In a somewhat awkward sense, I find it mildly amusing that paradise in the center of Baghdad is going to have to suffer a little of the misery that has been endured by the Iraqis for so long. The location is home to the billion dollar US Embassy complex. The Green Zone was officially handed over to the Iraqi government in January 2009 by the United States.



latimesblogs.latimes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 27-6-2010 by Jakes51]

US tax dollars seem to have been flushed down the toilet? Iraqis are going without power in 100 degree heat most of day. Then over the blast proof walls of the Green Zone, people were enjoying 24-hour access to electricity. To me, this is an important story and I would like to know what happened to the billions that have been allocated for Iraq reconstruction? Why since 2003 is Iraq still using an archaic electrical grid?

People across the country have been protesting violently about the energy crisis, and not much in the news about it? Make people uncomfortable and who knows what they are capable of. Expect atrocities and carnage to increase. We know about how people in America react to sweltering heat, and usually the homicide rates go up. It is a shame that people in Iraq are still going without common amenities like electricity, considering all the wealth they have in fossil fuel. Moreover, money seems to be going to all the wrong places. I am disgusted, and the US government ought to follow-up on where all our money went.

[edit on 27-6-2010 by Jakes51]