The $25 billion American reconstruction effort in Iraq was hobbled from the start by understaffing, a lack of technical expertise, bureaucratic infighting, secrecy and rising security costs, The New York Times reported on Monday. Staffing shortfalls and contracting battles between the State Department and Pentagon created delays of months at a stretch, the newspaper reported on its Web site, citing the first official history of the reconstruction program, assembled by the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq. Full Story