MER Article Iraq Reconstruction Tracker “War began last week,” said the New York Times on March 23, 2003. “Reconstruction starts this week.” In fact, the Bush administration had been soliciting proposals to “reconstruct” war-torn Iraq before dropping the first bomb, and before asking the UN Security Council to authorize military action. Between January 31 and Adam Horowitz, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Anthony Alessandrini • 6 min read