Reconstruction of Iraq Costs Min. $9 Billion

The report said the current cost of reconstructing Iraq is $3.6 billion. $933 million is internationally financed, bringing the total to $4.533 billion as of 2003 fiscal year. The report stressed leadership in Iraq; revitalized, protected and successful crude oil production; the avoidance of new skirmishes; accessibility to inside and outside markets; and continuing aid. The report said that if all circumstances are positive, the approximate cost of reconstructing Iraq would total $9 billion through 2007. If all conditions do not work well however, the report said that the approximate annual cost until 2007 would be $60 billion. Barring a worst-case scenario, annual reconstruction costs would not be more than $10 billion.

The report noted a possible gross national product (GNP) of $120 billion by 2007.

"It has been anticipated that constructing a new Iraq would be a longer, more complicated and costly process," the report added. "Over the past 50 years, countries that had its regime overthrown had evaluated only one opportunity among many. A stable Iraq will remove unnecessary life and money loss." The most important factors in Iraq’s reconstruction the report said, were "fixing infrastructure that is economically important and providing essential health and education services."