More than $100bn has been spent on Iraq's reconstruction projects, with about $50bn coming from the US, according to a recent report by Stuart Bowen, the special inspector-general for Iraq Reconstruction.
Bowen recently told the House Armed Services Committee that much of the money was lost to wastage, abuse and fraud, leaving very little for actual construction work - much of which is said to be substandard.
In response, some blame corrupt Iraqi officials and the reluctance of the government to make full use of the resources that have been available to them to rebuild the country.
