If you’ve gotten the impression that Iraq today is a wreck, you’ve gotten the wrong impression.

Richard Fernandez, PJM’s Sydney Editor and the writer behind “The Belmont Club,” phoned Major General William McCoy, Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers, Iraq, about a Washington Post assessment of the reconstruction efforts in Iraq (Much Undone in the Rebuilding of Iraq — Aug. 2, 2006) . The General had disagreed with just about everything in the article, yet his letter to correct the record went strangely unpublished by the Washington Post.

In this candid and far-ranging podcast interview, General McCoy discusses the conditions on the ground, the strategy of reconstruction, and what is needed to make a free, secure, and independent Iraq.

Some of General McCoy’s observations:

“We are making significant progress in the war on terror and significant progress in rebuilding Iraq.”

“People have to be able to see a future that is brighter than where they are.”

“Our contribution of 20 billion dollars is only a jumpstart of what this country needs…. There’s a 60 to 100 billion requirement for reconstruction in Iraq…. Have we had issues? Every day. And we continue to work through them to meet the needs of the Iraqi people.
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Click HERE for more MidEast and War on Terror podcasts at Issues Central.

Tom Harb is the Secretary General of the International Lebanese Committee for UN Security Council Resolution 1559, the resolution mandating the disarmament of Hezbollah which never occurred. Mr. Harb speaks in this exclusive podcast interview with Roger Simon about what Harb’s sources in Lebanon are telling him about disturbing conflicts within the Lebanese Cabinet on Saturday, reported on earlier by POLITICSCENTRAL. He also describes the arrest by the Lebanese government this weeked of Cedar Revolution activists attempting to put up posters in favor of 1559. Pajamas Media POLITICSCENTRAL will be following this story in the days to come and staying in close touch with Mr. Harb.
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A Production of Pajamas Media, the Best of the Blogs, and POLITICSCENTRAL. More 24/7 MidEast War Coverage HERE. More MidEast War Podcasts HERE.