Accountability.

In a troubling sign for the American-financed rebuilding program in Iraq, inspectors for a federal oversight agency have found that in a sampling of eight projects that the United States had declared successes, seven were no longer operating as designed because of plumbing and electrical failures, lack of proper maintenance, apparent looting and expensive equipment that lay idle.

The United States has previously admitted, sometimes under pressure from federal inspectors, that some of its reconstruction projects have been abandoned, delayed or poorly constructed. But this is the first time inspectors have found that projects officially declared a success — in some cases, as little as six months before the latest inspections — were no longer working properly.

Are we really helping the people? Is the cost in terms of lives worth this kind of progress, and who decides?

Maybe we just need to have a purple finger-painting party and pretend we are still helping to sow democracy? You know, when they throw candy to the kids, they get smiles. Of course, the kids are warned because many have died from collecting the sweet treats. Still, some just want smiling kiddies, convinced that our little candies are helping better their futures. How arrogant.