Iraq Quote by Rory Stewart
![“In the evening [the Iraqi interim governor of Maysan province] asked me for fifty dollars to repair his windows, which had been destroyed in a recent demonstration. Although he was the governor, his salary was only four hundred and fifty dollars a month, and Baghdad had still not agreed to give…” quote by Rory Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/568/rory-stewart-11028_iraq_in-the-evening-the-iraqi-interim-governo_674072.jpg)
““In the evening [the Iraqi interim governor of Maysan province] asked me for fifty dollars to repair his windows, which had been destroyed in a recent demonstration. Although he was the governor, his salary was only four hundred and fifty dollars a month, and Baghdad had still not agreed to give the governors an independent budget… For the sake of a tiny sum of money - a couple thousand dollars a month from the hundred billion we had spent on the invasion - we were alienating our key partner and successor. p. 264””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prince of the Marshes, 2016
The governor’s modest salary and lack of budget forced him to request personal money, highlighting how inadequate funding can undermine governance and alienate allies.
In simple terms: Low pay and no budget lead officials to ask for personal money, harming trust.
Key Takeaway
Ensure proper funding for officials to maintain trust.
Themes
governance
corruption
budgeting
politics
trust
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- aid programs
- local leadership
- anti‑corruption reforms
Key Concepts
public finance
institutional capacity
political legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does underfunding affect officials’ integrity?
- What mechanisms can prevent personal financial requests?
A Different Perspective
Even modest sums can create ethical dilemmas and erode relationships.
![“He [Babur] was a ype of mastiff, bred to fight against wolves, dogs, and humans. . . . The mastiff is perhaps the oldest breed of dog in the world. . . . The dogs of Ghor . . . were always regarded as particularly special mastiffs. . . . 'so powerful that in frame and strength every one of them is…” quote by Rory Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/daa/rory-stewart-11028_dogs-and-humans_he-babur-was-a-ype-of-mastiff-bred-to-fi_148394.jpg)
