The U.S. envoy to Iraq wants to shift $3.3 billion set aside for Iraqi water, sewer, power and other reconstruction projects to improve security, boost oil output and create jobs, a U.S. official said on Monday. The proposal by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte reflected the realization that without better security in the nation torn by an anti-U.S. insurgency, long-term rebuilding is impossible, the official said. Among other things, Negroponte proposed spending about $1.8 billion now earmarked for water, sewage and electricity to expand the Iraqi police, border patrol and national guard and increase the number of border posts, he said. The official, speaking to reporters on condition he not be named, said this money would add about 45,000 new police officers, 16,000 border patrol guards, 20 national guard battalions with 700 to 800 members each and 99 border posts. Full Story
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