Dirty Work

Dozens of scientists and engineers from the Army Corps of Engineers went to Iraq this spring to help rebuild the country and advise Defense and State Department leaders on construction issues. Many were sent to monitor contract workers from Bechtel, the company hired by the US Agency for International Development to rebuild much of Iraq's damaged and badly neglected infrastructure. But the Bechtel contract was delayed, and Iraq's infrastructure was much worse than the Pentagon had anticipated. The economic sanctions imposed on Iraq, widespread looting following the war and the tenuous state of security had all taken their toll, and many of the scientists and engineers sent by the Corps were pressed into performing work they hadn't counted on. Several stories on how these challenges were overcome are presented.