The U.S. Agency for International Development's website pages are regularly changed, redesigned and updated to maintain current information and a fresh look for our more than 18,000 daily web visitors. During the latest redesign of USAID's Iraq web site (www.usaid.gov/iraq), which is updated almost daily with detailed information on reconstruction work in Iraq, the Nightline transcript was removed to reflect current statements and testimony on Iraq reconstruction.
The Nightline interview with Administrator Natsios was conducted in April, 2003 -- prior to the end of major combat operations in Iraq, which was declared on May 1st. A week before the interview, Congress approved the first wartime supplemental budget for reconstructing Iraq. USAID was authorized to expend $1.7 billion on reconstruction in that supplemental. This was the best estimate available at that time, based on very limited information about the conditions inside of Iraq. It is this figure that Administrator Natsios cited in the Nightline interview.
Administrator Natsios makes it clear in the interview that we expected Iraq's oil revenues to supplement the U.S. contribution and those of other contributor countries. When thorough assessments were conducted in the weeks following the Nightline interview, USAID learned that the state of Iraq's infrastructure and oil industry was in great disrepair and revenues will take time to be raised to the levels to help sustain Iraq's reconstruction needs. The level of postwar looting in Iraq and the reality of the severely deteriorated conditions of Iraq's infrastructure necessarily changed the government's initial projections and the level of investment required to reconstruct Iraq.
If you do wish to obtain a copy of this interview, you may find videotapes and printed transcripts of Nightline broadcasts at the ABCNEWS Store (www.abcnewsstore.com/), or by calling 1-800-CALL-ABC (1-800-225-5222).
Back to Top ^
|
