Gen. talks specifics on Iraq

Sometimes reading about international politics in a newspaper isn’t enough to get a clear, accurate picture of what’s actually going on in a region, which is why a few hundred people gathered in Costa Mesa Thursday to hear a retired U.S. general talk about Iraqi reconstruction.

Maj. Gen. Rick Olson engaged the crowd in a very frank and consummately organized manner, answering questions about the United States’ role in the war and what he saw as the challenges of the future based on his experience as the current chief of staff to the special inspector general for Iraqi reconstruction.

He showcased his military discipline as he broke the conflict down into a series of lists including the “top five reasons we should care about Iraq,” “the top five reasons that the reconstruction effort is going so badly,” and “the top 10 factors that will influence the future of our mission in Iraq.”

“Are our tax dollars being put to good use in Iraq? The answer is no, and it’s not my fault,” Olson said, drawing laughter from the audience.

The main challenges in Iraq are all tied to sectarian tensions throughout the region, which are the No. 1 cause of violence, according to Olson.

Although Iraq is in many ways more progressive and developed than Afghanistan, another place where Olson has experience, the reconstruction effort there is more difficult because of civil unrest, he said.

Still, violence is down, and the main challenge has shifted from security to repairing the infrastructure, Olson said. Many Iraqis still don’t have electricity or clean water.

“After an excess of $40 billion, we’re only marginally better than we were after the war in terms of services provided to the Iraqis,” he said.

Olson was invited to speak at the Hilton hotel by the World Affairs Council of Orange County, which claims a very politically interested yet nonpartisan group of members.

The banquet hall looked almost like a classroom, with many attendees frantically taking notes and jotting down questions for the speaker.

“You get to hear from guys on the ground and hear things you can’t read in the papers,” said Bill Hagerty, a member of the council, voicing a sentiment mirrored by many in the crowd.

Audience members said they appreciated the “unfiltered” information that they couldn’t necessarily get from their televisions or a newspaper.

“Unless you read a specialized journal you would not hear such a cogent explanation of what’s going on in Iraq,” said council Chairman James Coyle.

Although Olson didn’t give an opinion on how long American troops needed to stay in Iraq, he said that the issue of when and how to withdraw them was of the utmost importance and shouldn’t be guided by political rhetoric on either side of the fence.

“I really hope that regardless of who the next president is we don’t let a campaign promise or some partisan ideology guide our policy,” Olson said.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.