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Summary:
Large-scale reconstruction assistance programs are being undertaken by the United States following the war with Iraq. To fund such programs, Congress approved on April 12, 2003, a $2.48 billion Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund in the FY2003 Supplemental Appropriation. On September 7, President Bush proposed a $20.3 billion reconstruction aid package, as part of an $87 billion FY2004 supplemental request. Other donors are expected to provide aid as well; their contributions to date are estimated at $1.5 billion, and a donor conference on October 24 is expected to raise more. Security Council Resolution 1483, approved May 22, allows the United States to draw on Iraqi oil sale profits for relief and reconstruction purposes. Former diplomat L. Paul Bremer III is the head of civilian administration in post-war Iraq. Under him, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), staffed by officials from the U.S. government and other nations, is implementing assistance programs. After an initial period of coalition-led aid activities, existing Iraqi ministries, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations (IOs) are expected to assume some of the burden. U.S. policymakers are negotiating with European allies the terms of a new U.N. Security Council Resolution that may provide a larger role for the United Nations in Iraq. One U.S. objective is to gain greater international military and financial cooperation in the Iraq stability and reconstruction effort. Criticisms of Administration reconstruction efforts include accusations of inadequate security, a failure to rapidly establish an Iraqi-led government, prevention of a larger multilateral role, excessive reliance on the U.S. military, and a lack of openness regarding plans for the reconstruction process. The report will be updated as events warrant. For discussion of the Iraq political situation, see CRS Report RL31339, Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-War Governance. See also CRS Report RL32090, FY2004 Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism: Military Operations, Reconstruction Assistance, and Other Activities.
