The insurgency in Iraq poses a bigger obstacle to rebuilding Sunni-dominated parts of the country today than it did six weeks ago, the coordinator of U.S. reconstruction aid said Friday. William Taylor, speaking from Baghdad in a video teleconference with reporters at the Pentagon, said the problem has grown worse in the Sunni Triangle north and west of Baghdad, and in Mosul, the city in northern Iraq where insurgents briefly overran police stations earlier this week. Taylor is director of the Iraqi Reconstruction Management Office in the U.S. Embassy. “In the Sunni areas and then up in Mosul it is worse today than it was, and we’re having greater difficulties from security,” he said. “We’re worried that in some areas — again, not all — in some areas it would now be difficult to have elections,” and so it is important that reconstruction work speed up so that voting can take place nationwide in late January, Taylor added. He said reconstruction is proceeding without much problem in southern and northeastern Iraq. Charles Hess, director of reconstruction contracting, appeared with Taylor and said that although “security is still a serious concern,” U.S. officials believe they can overcome it. Full Story
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