"The water supply has been cut off for four days, one woman told us.
There are daily power cuts, another said. That means no air conditioning, though Basra is sweltering now, close to 38C (100F).
Six years on, people here still cannot understand how two of the world's richest countries, Britain and America, could invade Iraq and not manage to improve the basic living standards of the population."
Well gee John, let's not forget a small fly in the ointment here, there was a war going on at the same time.
Simpson as usual blames it all on Britain and America. Simpson fails to mention that the Iraqi economy is booming and as a result, sales of air conditioners, tv's and other electrical appliances are booming as well. The result is a higher demand for electricity. In spite of that electricity production has surpassed prewar levels. That's in large part to Britain and America's rebuilding Iraqs infrastructure which was in steep disrepair under Saddam.
Simpson also fails to point out some important facts about Iraq's water problems.
"Baghdad still draws its water from the Tigris, but even that legendary source is problematic. President Jalal Talabani flew to Turkey this week to discuss the diminishing water flow, because Turkey has dammed the river. Syria and Iran have dammed its tributaries."...
In the absence of adequate sewers, squatters run pipes from their bathrooms into the street, turning it into a standing cesspool. The water lines are poorly sealed, and as the pressure goes down, raw sewage mixes with drinking water, not only for the squatters but also for anyone who relies on that water main.
Some of these problems most surely exist in Basra as well.
Simpson ends with this: "It was a trivial enough incident. But it was also a reminder that peace and prosperity are still some way off in Basra."
That's strange John for this BBC report contradicts that mate. As does this Sky report.
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