The reconstruction and democratization of Iraq has been a major goal of the Bush administration since declaring the "end of major combat operations" in the 2003 Iraq war. Rebuilding has been slowed by the continuing low-level combat in Iraq.
After (with limited international support) overthrowing the previous Iraqi government, the US has poured in billions of dollars of aid to restore electric service knocked out during combat, and has struggled to rebuild oil refineries that had been destroyed by Saddam Hussein's regime before its downfall.
Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, sees the US as paving the road to democracy and freedom for the Iraqi people.
- "There are a lot of wonderful things that've happened in Iraq since July. We have a Cabinet now; ministers actually are conducting affairs of state. We have met all of our goals in restoring essential services. All the schools and hospitals are open. Electricity is back at prewar levels." [1]
