June 1, 2007: The Iraqi Ministry of Defense has
selected the U.S. Air Force to manage a $350 million military infrastructure
project. While mostly noted for their domination of the air for the past sixty
years, the air force is also one of the premier managers of military
construction projects. The air force has quite a reputation in this area, at
least among the small community of those who manage large scale military
construction efforts. The Iraqis have long had problems with building military
infrastructure (barracks, training areas, hospitals and logistics facilities).
It was no different under Saddam, and before Saddam. It's the same old story;
corruption. The military budget is seen as something to plunder. In fact, some
of the oldest written accounts of such corruption were found in this area,
reminding historians that the problem is thousands of years old. But the Iraqis
cannot help but notice that the Americans are able to put up excellent military
facilities, in a hurry, with a minimum (by Middle Eastern standards) of
corruption.
The air force will supply up to a hundred personnel
to plan and supervise the twelve separate projects, as well as train Iraqis in
those planning skills. The air force will supervise a larger force of foreign
contractors who will manage the project in great detail, to insure the work
gets done on time, and on budget.
