Iraq was 'heartbreaking'

One of the major contractors working on the reconstruction of Iraq spoke this week about its "heartbreaking" experience of working in the troubled country.

Bechtel, which pulled out of Iraq this week, has seen 52 of its people die since it started operating in the region in 2003. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle this week the firm's president for infrastructure work Cliff Mumm concluded: "Did Iraq come out the way you hoped it would? I would say, emphatically, no. And it's heartbreaking."

Mumm said he was proud of the firm's work despite the increasing dangers the firm experienced - 49 other employees or subcontractors were also wounded during its work. The firm completed 97 of the 99 contracts it was tasked to complete for the US government. The work stretched across infrastructure schemes, civil engineering projects and new and refurbished schools. But Mumm said problems appeared after a lot of schemes were completed. Speaking about a sewage plant the firm worked on he said: "We'd get it completed and then the Iraqis would all flee and it'd get mortared."

Asked why the firm stayed so long Mumm said: "We didn't stay under durress. I think all of our people got in it, got involved in it and no one wants to leave a job half-done." He added: "Had Iraq been a calmer place while we were there, amazing things could have been done."