Iraq's government will have dramatically less money to spend this year than expected because of plunging oil prices -- a dire situation that has already forced the country to slash rebuilding plans by 40 percent.
U.S. commanders have repeatedly warned that without speedy economic development and reconstruction, the improvements in security since the U.S. troop surge of 2007 could be at risk in a country where about 38 percent of the work force is estimated to have no job or just part-time employment.
Iraq is almost entirely dependent on oil money. More than 90 percent of the government's revenues come from oil sales. The government earned about $60 billion from oil sales in 2008.
Electrocution of soldier called 'negligent homicide'
An Army investigation called the electrocution death of a U.S. soldier in Iraq a "negligent homicide" caused by military contractor KBR Inc.
An Army investigator said the manner of death for Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh has been changed from accidental to negligent homicide because the contractor failed to ensure that "qualified electricians and plumbers" worked on the barracks where the Green Beret died while taking a shower.
Maseth's mother, Cheryl Harris, testified on Capitol Hill last year about electrical problems in military facilities. Since then, the Army has made changes such as creating an electrical code for U.S. facilities in Iraq.
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