The Central Planning Continues . . .

First the U.S. destroys the country, then institutes central planning. From Yahoo (via Drudge): "A Bush administration document, distributed to members of Congress and obtained by The Associated Press, goes far beyond the details officials have publicly provided for how they would spend the $20.3 billion they have requested for Iraqi reconstruction. The 53 pages of justifications flesh out the size of the task of rebuilding the country, almost literally brick by brick. It also paints a painstaking picture of the damage Iraq (news - web sites) has suffered. "The war and subsequent looting destroyed over 165 firehouses throughout the country. There are no tools or equipment in any firehouse," according to the report, written by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S.-led organization now running Iraq. The report's estimated cost of rebuilding Iraq's fire service, including hiring and training 5,000 firefighters: $290 million."