Iraq and Afghanistan

The Infrastructure Battle

Yesterday I said the key to the success of the new interim government was the extent to which they could bring down the number of Iraqi casualties caused by those opposed to the new political structures developing in Iraq. (The number of civilians killed by Americans is declining and is likely to continue declining as our forces spend more time in their base camps and in training Iraqis.) This remains true (on an otherwise quiet front 15 policemen were killed today by mortars in Falluja, smaller numbers elsewhere). But yesterday I should have added that a parallel challenge is the protection of existing infrastructure as well as infrastructure that is in the process of rehabilitation. This means first of all a transportation system secure enough that potential users are willing to risk making use of it. It also means the protection of oil extraction, transportation and refining facilities. (A major pipeline was blown up today.) For many city dwellers, it means the provision of enough electrical energy to run their air conditioners. All of this shows on the one hand the extent to which Iraq is not an undeveloped country. But it also shows that the more developed it is, the more it can be damaged by relatively small attacks against key nodes in the system. I understand that with all that has happened, there is generally a steady upward trend in the status and condition of the infrastructure. The new government must see that it continues. For the Americans will become less and less willing to be everywhere, guarding everything.