The Command Post
Iraq
March 19, 2004
Good News From Iraq
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FROM OIF: THE FIRST YEAR

Operation Iraqi Freedom Coalition Forces have successfully liberated 25 million Iraqis from the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. These highlights provide information regarding the accomplishments of the Coalition throughout the past year.

The OIF Coalition is comprised of 34 countries, including 11 NATO countries, and they have provided over 22,000 troops to support the efforts in Iraq. There are two multi-national divisions in Iraq: one led by the United Kingdom in central-south Iraq, and one led by Poland in south Iraq.



The international community has pledged at least $32 billion to improve schools, health care, roads, water and electricity supplies, agriculture and other essential services. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and 38 countries have pledged to extend loans and grants to Iraq. Other nations are contributing humanitarian assistance, extending export credits and reducing Iraqi debt. The UN Security Council on Oct. 16, 2003, unanimously approved Resolution 1511 that calls on member states to support the work of the multinational force in Iraq.

Security:

  • America’s armed forces are taking the offensive against remnants of Saddam Hussein’s regime and foreign terrorists, leading more than 1,600 patrols a day and conducting an average of 180 raids a week.

  • 45 of the 55 most wanted Hussein regime members have been captured or killed, including the brutal dictator himself, whose capture sent a powerful message to the Iraqi people that the tyranny of the past will never return. The capture of Saddam Hussein provided a boost to intelligence throughout western Iraq.

  • The quality of intelligence is cascading as a result of the Saddam capture: the intelligence is of higher quality and allows a higher level of captures. Saddam’s capture is allowing the Coalition to apprehend more mid-level financiers and organizers.

  • More than 230,000 Iraqis now provide security for their fellow citizens, and Iraqi security forces now account for the majority of all forces in Iraq. These forces include Iraqi Police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, Iraqi Border Police, Iraqi Facility Protection Service and the New Iraqi Army.
Law/Governance:
  • Since July, the 25-person Iraqi Governing Council has had the authority to: name interim Ministers; exercise government oversight; prepare policy initiatives on Iraq’s national security, including reform of the armed forces, police and courts; lead development of a constitution; and approve Iraq’s national budget. 24 Iraqi Cabinet Members also contribute to the business of the government.

  • First time in 13 years, an ambassador to the US was appointed to restore diplomatic relations.

  • 90% of Iraq’s districts have municipal/government councils with more than 19 million Iraqis engaging in local political discourse

  • Ministry of Justice has established a Council of Judges to oversee the judiciary and prosecutors. Also, defendants are now provided lawyers.
Public Health:
  • 240 hospitals and most of Iraq’s 1200 clinics have reopened. 70 private hospitals are operating

  • 800 tons of high protein biscuits have been delivered to 15 Governorates for malnourished children and pregnant/nursing mothers.

  • 1.09 million humanitarian daily rations have been distributed to date.

  • 22 million children and 700,000 women have been inoculated against diseases since the war; 90% of all Iraqi children now receive routine vaccinations

  • Pharmaceuticals distribution improved from 0 to 12,000 tons today,
    more than $210 million approved for the Iraqi Ministry of Heath for pharmaceutical supplies and equipment, basic health care services, medical equipment and power generators for hospitals
Schools:
  • Nearly all schools are open and 5.1 million students are attending class

  • 25 Fulbright Scholarships awarded for the first time in 14 years; Fulbright Office added 2 new programs for Iraqis

  • Over 13,500 school buildings in Iraq; $4.4 million spent to complete 2,299 school renovations; UNICEF and other NGOs are rehabilitating 105 schools; 183K desks, 57K chairs, 61K chalkboards and 25K metal cabinets have been distributed

  • 33,000 teachers and 3,000 supervisors trained in instructional practices and classroom management strategies
Commerce and Trade:
  • Iraqis use a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years; 4.6 trillion new Iraqi dinars in circulation

  • Iraq Stock Exchange will open in April; Iraq Central Bank is fully independent and has been opened since Sept 03;

  • 83% of all pre-war bank branches are open

  • Umm Qasr Port turned over to Iraqi control in Jan 04

  • 393,950 jobs have been generated

  • Estimated crude oil export revenues exceed $3.3 billion for Iraqi reconstruction.

  • Telephone service continues to expand with 95% of service outside Baghdad.

  • More than 170 newspaper are published in Iraq
Power:
  • 4400 megawatts per day is the current seven-day average, this is up from 300 megawatts per day in 2003.

  • USAID will spend more than $250 million infrastructure repair funds on power rehabilitation and an additional $75 million allocated to power reconstruction.
Water:
  • Coalition programs have cleared over 16,500 km of irrigation canals, helping over 10,000 farms

  • Water storage in most Iraqi reservoirs is approaching historic averages

  • Rehabilitated water treatment plants will treat nearly 800 million liters/day, benefiting 3.5 million people

  • 90% of Iraqis will have potable water by Apr 05
Quality of Life:
  • Religious rites are being re-established for all sects.

  • New Ministry of Housing and Construction has started 1,008 new homes and is working with the UN to start 7 housing projects with 3,528 units
Military Supplies Used:
ItemQuantityDollar Value
MREs 42.1 mil meals $285.0 mil
Bottled water 120 mil bottles $31.0 mil
Cots 342,000 $18.2 mil
Lumber 17.25 mil board-feet $6.9 mil
Plywood 750,000 sheets $10.9 mil
Combat Boots 673,000 pair $48.7 mil
Body Armor 191,000 vests $105.0 mil
Body Armor 361,000 plates $180.5 mil

Posted By Chuck Simmins at March 19, 2004 09:01 PM | TrackBack
Comments

None of this matters, because we haven’t found actual WEAPONS of mass destruction. Just as Senator Kerry. His judgment is trustworty, right?

MG

Posted by: MG at March 19, 2004 11:15 PM

In addition to the quantitative accomplishments detailed above, the qualitative views of the Iraqi people are important (and upbeat!) See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/15_03_04_iraqsurvey.pdf

Summary info of that survey is available at various sites; try:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3514504.stm#

Posted by: Bryan L. Allen at March 20, 2004 07:14 AM

That Iraqis now have a true voice in their government, and that someone is willing to listen to them even when they dissent, speaks volumes about the change that the Coalition has wrought. The new Iraqi constitution is breathtaking, even for an interim document. And I am honored and blessed to be witness to it, even if only from a distance.

Posted by: gus3 at March 20, 2004 12:34 PM

“Iraqis now have a true voice in their government…”

Yep and pigs fly.

As I read somewhere on that site, the Pavlov method does not work.

You can repeat ad infinitum that Iraq is doing well and their people are happy with the invasion of their country, it does not stop the daily work of the resistance and the death toll growing.

I know that the supporters of that inept war do not want to hear the reality (hey after all even Fox Crap News does brodcast the many failures of this administration) but one day they will have to face the reality.

Burying your heads in the sand is after all very dangerous, it is full of mines.

LATESHOW

Posted by: LATESHOW at March 22, 2004 06:03 AM

If we had actually “buried our heads in the sand”— Saddam Hussein would still be in power, a threat to the civilized world, and murdering his own people. I could care less about the lack of WMD. These people are finally free, and sadly, many have paid for that freedom with their lives. We are a military family, and when we “signed on the bottom line” it was clear that that commitment could very well cost the ultimate price some day.

Posted by: Beth2004 at March 31, 2004 03:35 PM

Of my own race I was permitted to learn singularly little, yet what illusive knowledge of it I was distortable to gain seemed to depress me much. The plague had not been kind to him, yet had left him this stringed centrifugal thing to mitigate his sorrow

Posted by: lortab at April 1, 2004 08:28 PM

MG, you are so short-sighted…

Posted by: SL at April 7, 2004 07:33 PM

I’m sonu from india. My father has working in Iraq in 2003 but due to iraq war he came to india. I have right now 2000 iraqi 25 each notes dinars. i want to exchange my dinars if someone want to purchase then please email me at importfcs@yahoo.com. i shall be very thankfull to you, i need money very early please contact me

Posted by: Sonu Saini at April 8, 2004 08:23 AM

All the stated reasons given for the war have proven to be false. The UN never authorized the use of force by the US to enforce UN resolutions.
Iraq was no threat, had no WMD and the illegal pre-emptive attack and occupation of Iraq has taken away from the needed real war against terrorists.
Iraq was not a terrorist threat against US until we went there and made it dangerous to the US. So
the real question, is are we in the US better off and safer now that we are in Iraq, and the thousands of dead and wounded prove that we have created greater danger by Bush’s ill advised military adventure. He has managed to turn the majority of world opinion against the US, now viewed as a rogue nation not accountable to any international law or authority, UN or Geneva Convention.
Billions of dollars are being spent in Iraq, we need that money at home. Thousands of dead and wounded for no valid reason, the ultimate betrayal of the United States and her troops is to take us into an unnecessary war.
C Hamilton

Posted by: C Hamilton at April 16, 2004 01:03 PM

Get WWW.IDEBTCONSOLIDATION.ORG the debt relief you are searching for here!

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Posted by: dish network at June 3, 2004 08:30 AM

Please see what can be done about updating this site. We need to hear that more good good things are being done in Iraq for the Iraqi people…

Posted by: Greg at June 9, 2004 03:33 PM

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