General warns of graft in Iraq

General warns of graft in Iraq
By MONI BASU
Cox News Service
Thursday, June 22, 2006

ATLANTA — Iraq's economic woes transcend security issues though an immediate U.S. troop withdrawal would mean chaos, a high-ranking military official told a gathering of Atlanta businessmen Wednesday.

At an appearance at Atlanta's World Trade Center, Maj. Gen. Michael Diamond said Iraq had "turned the corner" with the installation of a national unity government this month but still had a long, tough road ahead.

He blamed lack of infrastructure and rampant corruption as two major hurdles for Iraqis to overcome.

"There has been a lot of progress in the governance area. But corruption is eroding a lot of what is taking place," said Diamond, of the U.S. Central Command.

He gave an example of oil pipelines such as those from the oil fields of Kirkuk that run through heavily tribal areas. Each tribe wants to be paid off before the oil can flow out of Iraq. "Grease my palm. Hit me," is a common phrase around Iraq, Diamond said.

(more)

http://www.pulsejournal.com/hp/content/shared/news/stories/IRAQ_GENERAL_0622_COX.html