Denial: It's Not Just A River In Punditland

Bush's radio address today:

Electricity is now more widely available [in Iraq] than before the war.

Reality check:

• "Iraq produced about 4,400 megawatts of electric power before the war...[and] the country required, but could not produce, about 6,000 megawatts of power per day." (WashTimes)


• Our stated goal is to "improve generating capacity to 6000 MW by June 1, 2004", a mere month away. According to the Ministry of Electricity, "the seven-day average (March 27-April 2) of peak electricity production was 3,883 MW, a decrease of 5.2 percent from the previous week". (CPA)

What else did Dubya say?

Iraq's oil infrastructure is being rebuilt, with the Iraqi oil industry already producing about 2.5 million barrels per day.

Reality check:

• Iraq produced 2.8 million barrels per day before the war (Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections).


• "We ought to be able to get the production back up on the order of two-and-a-half, three million barrels a day within -- hopefully, by the end of the year." (Dick Cheney speaking to the American Society of Newspaper Editors on 4/10/2003)

But surely there's real good news?

On June 30th, a sovereign Iraqi interim government will take office.

Reality check (from Aunty Beeb):

• [The interim government] will be appointed not elected


• It will have no powers to make laws


• Laws and rules already made by the Coalition will remain in force


• It will not have controlling power over the Coalition forces which after 30 June will become the "multi-national force"

Oh wait...the schools, the schools!

ntodd  ¶ 2:15 PM