Lessons From 'Hard Lessons': Excerpts From the Iraq Reconstruction Report

In a 513-page report, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction delivers the definitive critique of the largest American nation-building effort since World War II.

ProPublica has culled highlights from the report, Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience, with annotations (in blue) by senior reporter T. Christian Miller that explain their significance.

Slide your mouse across any green-highlighted word to pop up background information.

Click on a photo or icon and every reference to that person or institution will appear on the screen.

If you click on the page numbers at the bottom of each excerpt, you can jump to that page in the report.

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