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Author Topic:   Violent propaganda
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 76 of 135 (202666)
04-26-2005 2:24 PM
Reply to: Message 75 by Primordial Egg
04-26-2005 2:10 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
Good, so now we know you're no longer prepared to defend the claims of the Iraqi defector
I didn't say that. I still believe the named Iraqi defector over the "former CIA guy" who is not named. That's not a good source IMO. And you know good and well you'd bust me out for saying, "Well I talked to (insert professional) about (insert subject) and not tell you who it was.
As far as the Salmon Pak intelligence, I have the 911 hearings that state, based on intelligence, that it was a terrorist site.
You have the mystery CIA agent off of some website.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
No webpage found at provided URL: www.1st-vets.us

This message is a reply to:
 Message 75 by Primordial Egg, posted 04-26-2005 2:10 PM Primordial Egg has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 77 by jar, posted 04-26-2005 2:56 PM Tal has replied
 Message 79 by Primordial Egg, posted 04-26-2005 5:43 PM Tal has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 77 of 135 (202684)
04-26-2005 2:56 PM
Reply to: Message 76 by Tal
04-26-2005 2:24 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
Tal
Terrorist sites are everywhere, Florida, Canaada, every developed country and most developing nations, anywhere there is infrastructure and resources. But IRAQ was simply not a big problem.
First it was surrounded. Second it was under the microscope. Third, the infrastructure was going to pot rapidly. Fourth, it was a serious threat to its neighbors, but not to the US. Fifth, it was a controlled threat.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by Tal, posted 04-26-2005 2:24 PM Tal has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 78 by Tal, posted 04-26-2005 3:14 PM jar has not replied
 Message 80 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 1:09 PM jar has replied

  
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 78 of 135 (202687)
04-26-2005 3:14 PM
Reply to: Message 77 by jar
04-26-2005 2:56 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
Jar
I agree with you that terrorists are everywhere.
Pre 911 it was a controlled threat. Post 911 it was a controlled threat that was not living up to the "control" the UN exerted and, the intel told us at the time, there were WMD that could land in terrorists hands to be used against western targets.
Yes, I know we haven't found the WMD. That's another argument. Yes, there are other countries that are deep into state sponsored terrorism.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
No webpage found at provided URL: www.1st-vets.us

This message is a reply to:
 Message 77 by jar, posted 04-26-2005 2:56 PM jar has not replied

  
Primordial Egg
Inactive Member


Message 79 of 135 (202760)
04-26-2005 5:43 PM
Reply to: Message 76 by Tal
04-26-2005 2:24 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
Even Colin Powell has admitted that the evidence obtained defectors was inaccurate, I see no reason to believe this defector just because he says he has a name.
MR. RUSSERT: Thank you very much, sir. In February of 2003, you put your enormous personal reputation on the line before the United Nations and said that you had solid sources for the case against Saddam Hussein.
It now appears that an agent called "Curve Ball" had misled the CIA by suggesting that Saddam had trucks and trains that were delivering biological-chemical weapons. How concerned are you that some of the information you shared with the world is now inaccurate and discredited?
SECRETARY POWELL: I'm very concerned. When I made that presentation in February 2003, it was based on the best information that the Central Intelligence Agency made available to me. We studied it carefully. We looked at the sourcing in the case of the mobile trucks and trains; there was multiple sourcing for that. Unfortunately, that multiple sourcing over time has turned out to be not accurate, and so I'm deeply disappointed.
But I'm also comfortable that at the time that I made the presentation, it reflected the collective judgment, the sound judgment of the intelligence community; but it turned out that the sourcing was inaccurate and wrong, and, in some cases, deliberately misleading, and for that I am disappointed and I regret it.
You chose to ignore the Guardian report about false intelligence obtained from defectors as well.
Your refuge is to pretend that the intelligence referred to in the 911 commission reports amounts to anything more substantial than the intelligence gleaned from these very defectors, whilst ignoring a story by a Pullitzer Prize winning journalist known for his inside sources and his work in bringing to light details of the My Lai massacre and Abu Ghraib, amongst others.
PE
edit to add source
This message has been edited by Primordial Egg, 04-26-2005 04:44 PM
This message has been edited by Primordial Egg, 04-26-2005 04:45 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by Tal, posted 04-26-2005 2:24 PM Tal has not replied

  
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 80 of 135 (204326)
05-02-2005 1:09 PM
Reply to: Message 77 by jar
04-26-2005 2:56 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
Terrorist sites are everywhere, Florida, Canaada, every developed country and most developing nations, anywhere there is infrastructure and resources.
I misread this the first time. No, there are no terrorists' sites in Canada or Florida. There's no 747 Fuselage sitting in Orlando away from Airports for "training" purposes.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
No webpage found at provided URL: www.1st-vets.us

This message is a reply to:
 Message 77 by jar, posted 04-26-2005 2:56 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 81 by jar, posted 05-02-2005 1:18 PM Tal has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 81 of 135 (204329)
05-02-2005 1:18 PM
Reply to: Message 80 by Tal
05-02-2005 1:09 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
I disagree. Where did the 9-11 hijackers get their flight training?

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 80 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 1:09 PM Tal has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 82 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 2:00 PM jar has replied

  
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 82 of 135 (204341)
05-02-2005 2:00 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by jar
05-02-2005 1:18 PM


Re: I think we are getting way away from some important points.
I don't classify people by where they get their education, but by what they do with it.
That being said, if you graduated from Hasan's Al Qeada school of blowing yourself up, then yes, I do classify you by where you were educated.
This message has been edited by Tal, 05-02-2005 02:02 PM

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
No webpage found at provided URL: www.1st-vets.us

This message is a reply to:
 Message 81 by jar, posted 05-02-2005 1:18 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 83 by jar, posted 05-02-2005 2:23 PM Tal has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 83 of 135 (204348)
05-02-2005 2:23 PM
Reply to: Message 82 by Tal
05-02-2005 2:00 PM


On responses and reaction to terrorism
This thread started when a now suspended member suggested that the correct response to terrorism what to use violent and offensive propoganda directed at muslims.
But an underlying issue is how do we deal with terrorism.
IMHO our current response such as invading IRAQ simply show that the current administration has no clue what terrorism is or how to respond to it, and that such actions as they have taken have been stupid and counter-productive.
Your response above seems to indicate, IMHO, a simlar shallow understanding.
I base my beliefs and support my assertions by the following:
  1. Terrorism relies on knowledge and infrastructure.
  2. The occasional terrorist with a bomb strapped to his ass is not a threat to ANY Nation.
  3. Effective terrorism requires an intellegent and educated guiding force.
  4. The tools needed for the above are not found in some burned out wreck of a fuselage in the desert.
  5. Communications infrastructure is found in developed countries.
  6. Transportation infrastructure is found in developed countries.
  7. Manufacturing infrastructure is found in developed countries.
  8. Educational infrastructure is found in developed countries.
  9. therefore, terrorists go to developed countries for training and supposrt.
The current War of Terroism, like the War on Drugs, is stupid because:
  1. Resouces are limited.
  2. By using resources in attacking and occupying IRAQ we divert resources that could have been used to address terrorism.
  3. One of the big goals of terrorism is to provoke a response that is grossly out of proportion. This is exactly what we have done. By invading and occupying IRAQ we have increased recruitment outside IRAQ.
  4. We have reduced the civil liberties of our civilians.
  5. We have moved the focus and attention from Terrorism to the validity of the Invasion of Iraq.
In all, I stand by my statement that terrorist training takes place primarily in the developed world, primarily in the US but also in Europe, the rest of North and South America and to a lesser extent, Asia.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 82 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 2:00 PM Tal has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 84 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 3:06 PM jar has not replied
 Message 88 by mick, posted 05-03-2005 12:13 PM jar has replied

  
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 84 of 135 (204356)
05-02-2005 3:06 PM
Reply to: Message 83 by jar
05-02-2005 2:23 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
Looks like you got it figure out jar. Run for president.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
No webpage found at provided URL: www.1st-vets.us

This message is a reply to:
 Message 83 by jar, posted 05-02-2005 2:23 PM jar has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by StormWolfx2x, posted 05-03-2005 4:10 AM Tal has not replied
 Message 86 by Andya Primanda, posted 05-03-2005 8:41 AM Tal has not replied

  
StormWolfx2x
Inactive Member


Message 85 of 135 (204557)
05-03-2005 4:10 AM
Reply to: Message 84 by Tal
05-02-2005 3:06 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
/clap
if you put that big ape in a suit I doubt the media would even be able to detect he wasn't a politician

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 3:06 PM Tal has not replied

  
Andya Primanda
Inactive Member


Message 86 of 135 (204595)
05-03-2005 8:41 AM
Reply to: Message 84 by Tal
05-02-2005 3:06 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
I'd take the orangutan as US president any time over GWB!
Because he is planning to invade Indonesia!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by Tal, posted 05-02-2005 3:06 PM Tal has not replied

Replies to this message:
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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 87 of 135 (204643)
05-03-2005 11:40 AM
Reply to: Message 86 by Andya Primanda
05-03-2005 8:41 AM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
Remember, after any US invasion there follows bountiful foriegn aid. Unless of course, after we free you and make you safe for democracy you do something stupid like freely elect somebody we don't like. Then we have to get your choice overthrown or assasinated.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 86 by Andya Primanda, posted 05-03-2005 8:41 AM Andya Primanda has not replied

  
mick
Member (Idle past 4986 days)
Posts: 913
Joined: 02-17-2005


Message 88 of 135 (204656)
05-03-2005 12:13 PM
Reply to: Message 83 by jar
05-02-2005 2:23 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
One practical response to terrorism that has often been successful is for governments of the people targeted by terrorists to negotiate with the terrorists and enter into talks to try to resolve some of the perceived grievances.
For example this worked quite well in bringing about a cessation of republican violence by the IRA. In that case, the government entered into secret negotiations that were never revealed to the public until they had reached fairly late stages, and the results were excellent.
Life is definitely looking brighter for both Northern-Irish catholics and the citizens of mainland UK, despite frequent setbacks.
Mick
This message has been edited by mick, 05-03-2005 12:14 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 83 by jar, posted 05-02-2005 2:23 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 89 of 135 (204658)
05-03-2005 12:19 PM
Reply to: Message 88 by mick
05-03-2005 12:13 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
I certainly agree. Another necessary component is to change the conditions on the ground that lead someone to adopt terrorism. Money spent on things like education, health care, employement, social safety nets and infrastructure are required.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 88 by mick, posted 05-03-2005 12:13 PM mick has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 90 by Tal, posted 05-03-2005 4:30 PM jar has replied

  
Tal
Member (Idle past 5677 days)
Posts: 1140
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Joined: 12-29-2004


Message 90 of 135 (204718)
05-03-2005 4:30 PM
Reply to: Message 89 by jar
05-03-2005 12:19 PM


Re: On responses and reaction to terrorism
One practical response to terrorism that has often been successful is for governments of the people targeted by terrorists to negotiate with the terrorists and enter into talks to try to resolve some of the perceived grievances.
Huge Disagree.
"Every time that you appease terrorism, you only make it pay more and you stimulate more terrorism because they can see that it pays very good returns for them," said Neil Livingstone, a terrorism expert and CEO of GlobalOptions Inc.
Experts say that there's a danger in even appearing soft toward terrorist demands, as seen when Spain decided to pull its troops out of Iraq earlier than scheduled after terrorists bombed several commuter trains in Madrid on March 11, which left 190 people dead. The railway bombings were blamed on Islamic militants with possible links to Al Qaeda.
"Spain is the best example they cut and ran after the train was bombed," said former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger. "The message to the terrorists will be if you get nasty enough to these people they'll give in and they'll run."
Jar
Money spent on things like education, health care, employement, social safety nets and infrastructure are required.
I totally agree.
Do you mean some things like this?
[qs]USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). USAID programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, coalition country partners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners. The USAID Mission in Iraq carries out programs in education, health care, food security, infrastructure reconstruction, airport and seaport management, economic growth, community development, local governance, and transition initiatives.
The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:
1. Restoring Essential Infrastructure
2. Supporting "ducation
3. Expanding Economic Opportunity
4. Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government
Program Descriptions and Accomplishments
1. Restore Essential Infrastructure
Electricity -- Objectives include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power generation facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the CPA have been working since May of 2003 to restore capacity to Iraq's power system, which was dilapidated from decades of neglect, mismanagement, and looting.
Accomplishments to Date:
Generated 4,518 MW on October 6, 2003 - surpassing the pre-war level of 4,400 MW. Average production over the last seven days was 4,064 MW.
Generated 98,917 MW hours on February 14, 2004 - the highest since reconstruction began.
Installing independent sources of power at Baghdad International Airport and Umm Qasr seaport.
Collaborating with Bechtel, CPA, and Task Force Restore Iraqi Electricity on projects to repair thermal units, replace and repair turbines, rehabilitate the transmission network, and install and restore generators. This collaboration is expected to produce 2,152 MW of additional capacity.
- USAID is adding 827 MW of capacity through maintenance, rehabilitation, and new generation projects.
- USAID's portion of the work includes:
- Rehabilitating units 5 and 6 at Doura thermal power plant.
- Rehabilitating units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 at Bayji thermal power plant.
- Continuing reconstruction of the country's 400-kv transmission network by rebuilding 205 kilometers of Khor Az Zubayr-Nasiriyah 400-kv line.
- Installing new generating capacity at Kirkuk and South Baghdad power plants.
Highlights this Week:
The Iraqi subcontractor at Kirkuk substation is continuing with the foundation construction for the unit's turbines, generators, and ancillary equipment. These foundations are being laid in preparation for installation of two generators, which will add 325 MW of power.
Airports -- Objectives include: providing material and personnel for the timely repair of damaged airport facilities, rehabilitating airport terminals, facilitating humanitarian and commercial flights, and preparing for the eventual handover of airport operations to the Iraqi Airport Commission Authority.
Accomplishments to Date:
Processing an average of 20 non-military arrivals and departures a day at Baghdad International Airport.
- More than 5,000 military and NGO flights have arrived and departed at Baghdad International Airport since July 2003.
Completed infrastructure work to prepare Baghdad International Airport for commercial air operations.
- Repaired Terminal C and administration offices.
- Installed three X-ray machines.
- Installed small terminal for VSAT communication systems and new diesel powered generators, allowing Iraqi airport control centers to communicate.
- Rehabilitated Iraqi customs office in the arrival hall.
Rehabilitated Baghdad International Airport's East Fire Station; airport fire protection training for a team of more than 80 Iraqis is ongoing.
Preparing Al Basrah International Airport for commercial operations. Ongoing projects include:
- Repairing runway, taxiway, and apron striping.
- Installing two baggage X-ray units.
- Repairing passenger support facilities.
- Installing VSAT satellite communications.
- Installed security fence.
- Repairing airport water and sewage treatment plants.
Completed evaluation of reconstruction requirements at Mosul Airport.
Highlights this Week:
Reconstruction work at Basrah International Airport is nearing completion. Recent projects include the installation of a Land Mobile Radio system, the completion of the perimeter fence and work at the airport's wastewater and water treatment plants.
Bridges and Railroads -- Objectives include: rehabilitating and repairing damaged transportation systems, especially the most economically critical networks.
Accomplishments to Date:
Bridges:
Demolished irreparable sections of three key bridges (Khazir, Tikrit, and Al Mat) and started reconstruction.
- Al Mat Bridge: A key link on Highway 10 that carries over 3,000 trucks daily on the main route between Baghdad and Jordan.
- Work was completed, and the four-lane bridge was reopened to two-way traffic on March 3, 2004.
- Khazir Bridge: Critical to the flow of fuel and agricultural products to the north.
- Repairs to this bridge were completed on May 1, 2004.
- Tikrit Bridge: An important link for passengers and commerce over the Tigris River between Tikrit and Tuz Khurmatu.
- On the upstream side of Pier 7, steel beams have been erected and dowels are installed. Work is expected to be complete in August 2004.
Repaired a floating bridge on the Tigris River in Al Kut, improving traffic for approximately 50,000 travelers a day.
Railroads:
Iraqi Republican Railways contributes equipment and labor, while USAID contributes project management, material, and parts. Work on the railways includes:
- Repairing 16 km of track at the port of Umm Qasr and 56 km of track between the port and Shuiaba Junction near Basrah to facilitate cargo shipments, including foodstocks, from the seaport to main rail line.
- Completed explosive ordinance disposal at all 53 sites of the rail line project near Shuiaba Junction (Al Basrah Governorate) in preparation for installation of new track.
Umm Qasr Seaport -- Objectives include: managing port administration, coordinating transport from the seaport, and facilitating cargo-handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, and storage.
Accomplishments to Date:
Reopened to commercial traffic June 2003; completed first passenger vessel test in July 2003.
Offloading cargo from more than 40 cargo ships per month.
Dredged the port to an average depth of 12.5 meters. Previously, the port was 9-10 meters deep, and limited cargo could arrive only during high tide.
- An Iraqi dredger, which has been rehabilitated by USAID, is assisting with maintenance dredging.
Renovated grain-receiving facility, which can process up to 600 metric tons of grain an hour.
Instituted port tariffs, which provide a revenue stream for financially sustainable port operations.
Installed generators, energizing all three 11-kv ring mains which distribute electricity throughout the port.
Completed security fencing at the old and new ports and grain facility.
Completed the renovation of the administration building, passenger terminal and customs hall building and continuing the renovation of the electrical substations.
Highlights this Week:
Umm Qasr seaport in Basrah Governorate receives deep draft ships transporting essential goods for the Iraqi economy. More than 50 ships arrived in April and another 40 have arrived in May, with several more ships expected. Last week, seven ships were in port unloading goods, which included rice wheat and sugar. In addition, the Ram Allah and the Saif Sa'ad dredgers, one of which was rehabilitated by USAID partner Bechtel, are dredging the port. Silt from as far away as Turkey is carried by the rivers and settles in the channels and berths. The maintenance work will ensure that the proper 12 meter depth is maintained for deep draft ships to continue docking.
Telecommunications -- Objectives include: install switches to restore service to 240,000 telephone lines in Baghdad area, and repair the nation's fiber optic network from north of Mosul through Baghdad and Nasiriyah to Umm Qasr.
Accomplishments to Date:
Handed over the Al Mamoun Telecommunications site to the Ministry of Communications in February 2004. Twelve new telephone switches and an International Satellite Gateway have been integrated with fourteen Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company (ITPC) switches.
Purchased tools, equipment, and parts to enable Iraqi engineers to restore the network.
- Repairing the national fiber optic network from Mosul to Umm Qasr, connecting 20 cities to Baghdad.
Reconstituted Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines of capacity. Installed new switches and main distribution frames at 12 sites.
- Baghdad's largest exchange, Al Mamoun, opened in December 2003. More than 186,000 individual subscriber lines are now active; work to allow final activation for all subscribers is underway.
- Completed installation of a satellite gateway system at Al Mamoun and restored international calling service to Iraq on December 30, 2003.
- Al Mamoun was handed over to the Ministry of Communications on February 26, 2004.
Training Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company operators and engineers at Al Mamoun on telecommunications site operations, maintenance, and repairs.
Water and Sanitation -- Objectives include: rehabilitate and repair essential water infrastructure to provide potable water and sanitation to communities and improve irrigation.
Accomplishments to Date:
Nationwide: Rehabilitating sewage and water treatment plants that currently by-pass untreated sewage generated by millions of people into the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
- Repairing and rehabilitating water systems throughout Iraq.
- Repaired hundreds of breaks in Iraq's critical and long neglected water network, significantly increasing water flow.
Baghdad: Expanding one water plant and rehabilitating three sewage plants.
- Rehabilitating and adding 45 percent capacity to Baghdad's Sharq Dijlah water plant (previously named Saba Nissan water plant), adding an additional 225,000 cubic meters a day to the water supply by August 2004, mostly in the overpopulated eastern sections.
- Installing back-up electrical generators at 41 Baghdad water facilities and pumping stations to ensure continuous water supply.
- Rehabilitating Baghdad's sewage treatment plants - Rustimiyah North, Rustimiyah South, and Kerkh to benefit 3.8 million people by October 2004.
- Rehabilitated 70 of Baghdad's non-functioning waste lift and pumping stations.
South Central: Rehabilitating two water plants and four sewage plants.
- Rehabilitating An Najaf and Karbala' water treatment plants. The projects will be complete in August 2004 and November 2004, respectively.
- Rehabilitating Ad Diwaniyah and Karbala sewage treatment plants, which serve 200,000 residents and currently discharge untreated waste into the Euphrates River. These projects are expected to be complete by August 2004 and November 2004, respectively.
- Rehabilitating An Najaf and Al Hillah sewage treatment plants to serve 194,000 residents. These projects are expected to be complete by December 2004 and August 2004, respectively.
South: Rehabilitating the entire Sweet Water Canal system, including the canal and its reservoir, 14 water treatment plants and pumping stations, and the Safwan water system.
- The system provides drinking water to 1.75 million residents of Basrah City.
- Rehabilitated both the east and west reservoirs of the canal in early April, allowing it to be re-filled with clean water.
- Began work on Basrah's 14 water treatment plants in January 2004. By summer 2004, water quality and volume will surpass prewar levels.
- Completed the restoration of the Safwan water system. All 40,000 residents now have access to potable drinking water.
North: Rehabilitating two water plants and one sewage plant.
- Rehabilitating Kirkuk, Mosul and Ad Dujayl water treatment facilities and Ad Dujayl sewage plant.
- Procuring reconstruction materials for the Ninawa' Sewer and Water Directorate. This Directorate will repair projects in Mosul and the surrounding areas.
- Constructing potable water sources for towns and villages of less than 1,000 residents.
Highlights this Week:
Iraqi non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are repairing water and sewage treatment facilities to improve public health conditions in their communities. These projects are implemented with the support of USAID partner Abt Associates and coordinated with the Ministry of Health. More than $1.3 million in small grants have been distributed to NGOs throughout the country to allow Iraqi organizations to implement projects which are improving public health throughout Iraq.
- One organization repaired a water pumping station in Baghdad and handed the project over to the Baghdad Municipality. The breakdown of the station resulted in the leakage of raw water into the potable water of these neighborhoods. The repair of the water pumping station will reduce environmentally related health hazards for more than 2 million citizens in Baghdad.
- Another Iraqi NGO, repaired the sewer pipelines in a Baghdad district. The organization began its work in December 2003 and has completed repairs to the sewage network, pumping station, septic tanks, gullies and access holes. This project benefits more than 40,000 Baghdad residents.
Rehabilitation of Al Hillah waste water treatment plant is progressing and is expected to be complete by mid-August. The rehabilitated plant will benefit 53,000 Hillah residents.
Mechanical and electrical work is more than 50 percent complete at Ad Diwaniyah wastewater treatment plant. Ad Diwaniyah waste water treatment plant will benefit more than 80,000 when the project is complete in August 2004.
2. Support Essential Health and Education
Health -- Objectives include: supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health, delivering essential health services, funding vaccines and high protein biscuits for pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children, providing basic primary health care equipment and supplies, training and upgrading health staff, providing health education and information, and identify the specific needs of the health sector and of vulnerable populations such as women and children.
Accomplishments to Date:
Procured more than 30 million doses of vaccines since July 2003 with support from the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.
Immunization services were the first national health program re-started after the war. USAID provided vaccines for all of the 4.2 million Iraqi children under five years of age. Since June 2003, over 3 million of these children have been vaccinated; ongoing monthly vaccine days will reach the rest. In addition, 700,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated for tetanus.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization has successfully completed a nation-wide immunization campaign for measles, mumps, and rubella, covering over 5 million children ages 6 to 12.
Awarded $1.3 million in small grants to support Iraqi NGO healthcare efforts throughout Iraq.
Developed a hospital and clinic facility database for the Ministry of Health on facility type, location, service distribution, cost information, and building condition.
Renovating 52 primary health care clinics and re-equipping over 600 to provide essential primary healthcare services.
Training healthcare trainers who will reach more than 2,000 primary healthcare providers throughout Iraq.
Distributed high-protein supplementary food rations to more than 240,000 pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children.
Evaluated 18 national and regional public health laboratories for equipment needs.
Rehabilitated the National Polio Laboratory.
Training more than 1,000 health workers and volunteers to identify, treat and monitor the growth of acutely malnourished children.
Working with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop a five year strategic plan. Goals include increasing the level of preventative care available to the Iraqi people by addressing public health, health care delivery, health information systems, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, health care finance, education and training, human resources, legislation and regulation, and licensing and accreditation.
Distributing 1.4 million liters of clean water each day to people in the cities of Al Basrah, Al Muthanna', Kirkuk, and Mosul.
Highlights this Week:
An Iraqi non-governmental organization has completed a campaign to reduce the spread of Brucellosis in Mosul. The project identified individuals infected with the disease by collecting urine and blood samples and then treated the affected individuals. The organization also distributed flyers containing important information about brucellosis to prevent the spread of the disease. Brucellosis is an infectious disease that is primarily passed among animals, but can also be spread to humans when they come into contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with bacteria, such as unprocessed milk or inadequately cooked meat. The disease can cause a range of symptoms in humans that are similar to the flu but can be more severe and long-lasting. This project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Health and USAID partner Abt Associates.
An Iraqi NGO is distributing potable water to rural areas of Basrah and Dhi Qar Governorates, where communities lack the systems to receive potable water. The organization distributed 20 liter containers to 9,000 families in the two governorates and provided 270,000 sterilizing tablets. The families also received flyers containing instructions on the use of the containers and the tablets. The organization coordinated with the Directorates of Health in each governorate who selected 40 doctors to provide training for the use of the sterilizing tablets and information about the risks of the contaminated water. This project made a major contribution to the improvement of health in these areas as reconstruction and rehabilitation of water systems continues. The project is being implemented with the support of the Iraq Health System Strengthening project which is managed by USAID partner Abt Associates and the Ministry of Health.
Iraqi non-governmental organizations are working to improve the health care available to children and women - particularly women of child-bearing age. Limited access to health care is a significant cause of Iraq's high infant mortality rate. Projects are being implemented with the support of the Iraq Health System Strengthening project which is managed by Ministry of Health and USAID partner Abt Associates.
Education -- Objectives include: increasing enrollment and improving the quality of primary and secondary education, ensuring that classrooms have sufficient materials, facilitating community involvement, training teachers, implementing accelerated learning programs, and establishing partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities.
Accomplishments to Date:
Immediately After the Conflict
Provided technical assistance for the resumption of Ministry of Education functions and salaries.
Funded 5.5 million examinations for transitional grades, which ensured the smooth continuation of education.
Facilities and Supplies
Awarded 627 grants worth more than $6 million to rehabilitate schools and equip Directorates General.
Rehabilitated 2,358 schools countrywide for the first term of the 2003/04 school year.
Provided materials, equipment and supplies:
- Distributed nearly 1.5 million secondary school kits that include pens, pencils, paper, math supplies, and other essentials.
- Distributed 159,005 student desks, 26,437 teacher desks, 59,940 teacher chairs, 26,050 metal cabinets, 61,500 chalkboards, and 58,500 teacher kits.
- Delivered 808,000 primary student kits.
- Delivered 81,735 primary teacher kits.
In consultation with the Iraqi Ministry of Education, reviewed 48 math and science textbooks for grades 1 through 12.
Printed and distributed 8,759,260 textbooks throughout Iraq.
Institutional Strengthening
Trained 860 secondary school Teacher Trainers during September 2003 to January 2004 nationwide.
Trained 31,772 secondary school teachers and administration staff.
Conducting an accelerated learning program in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Ad Diwaniyah, Karbala', and Arbil. More than 600 students are participating in the program. In February 2004, the students completed mid-term exams.
Higher Education
USAID participated in the bi-national Fulbright scholarship review committee. The Fulbright Scholarship Program returned to Iraq after a 14-year absence. The program awarded at least 25 scholarships for Iraqis to study in the United States in 2004.
Launched the Higher Education and Development Program. Awarded five grants worth an estimated $20.7 million for U.S.-Iraqi university partnerships:
- A consortium led by Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Stony Brook is partnering with Baghdad University, Al Mustansiriyah University/Baghdad, Basrah University, and Mosul University in archeology and environmental health.
- The University of Hawaii College of Agriculture and Human Resources is partnering with the University of Mosul Hamam Al-Alil and University of Dahuk for strengthening academic, research, and extension programs.
- The Human Rights Institute at DePaul University College of Law and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (Italy) is partnering with Universities of Baghdad, Basrah, and Sulaimanyah on legal education reform.
- Jackson State University/MCID is partnering with University of Mosul, University of Dahuk, and the Nursing Institute (Dahuk) for public health and sanitation.
- The University of Oklahoma and consortia is partnering with the Technology University/Baghdad, Al Anbar University, Basrah University, University of Babil, and the University of Salah ad Din in higher education initiatives.
Highlights this week:
A new UNICEF education grant work plan has been developed and approved by the Ministry of Education and USAID. The new grant, awarded in March 04, covers teacher training, accelerated learning, rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, health programming in schools, and sector coordination activities.
A new internet center at the University of Dahuk's College of Agriculture is improving communication and increasing access to information for more than 550 College students and faculty. The center includes new computer workstations as well as a satellite-based broadband communication system. On May 15, an official ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of the center, led by the dean of the College of Agriculture and the heads of all of the university's department heads. Local media, including TV radio and newspapers, covered the event. The University of Dahuk works in partnership with the University of Hawaii and the University of Mosul Hamam al Alil.
USAID's Higher Education program brings together American and Iraqi universities to aid in the reestablishment of academic excellence in Iraq's higher education system. The partnerships will continue their implementation until Feb 2005.
- Under the De Paul University Partnership, Baghdad Law Library is under refurbishment; a moot court has been established in Baghdad; judges, prosecutors, and lawyers have been providing hands-on practical training on rules of the court and the practice of law; rule of law seminars are being developed in the areas of post conflict justice, crimes against humanity; additional seminars in truth and reconciliation and victim's compensation are under development.
- Under the Jackson University Partnership, a series of training courses for more than 100 doctors, nurses, and engineers in Dohuk and Mosul have been conducted, a special event was held to celebrate the World Water Day with the participation of over 1,000 local citizens in Mosul; Four Iraqi faculty members from Mosul have been sponsored to attend the Pan Arab Diabetes Conference in Cairo and 51 grantees have been selected to conduct research in the areas of science, dentistry, engineering, medicine and nursing.
- Under the University of Oklahoma Partnership, seven University Presidents visited different Universities and law makers in the United States launching the administration and management training for Iraqi higher education administrators; Baghdad Technology University offices have been refurbished; and over 9,000 books for the refurbishments of university libraries through Iraq have been assembled.
- Under the University of Hawaii Partnership, the first essential electronic agriculture library in Iraq with over 140 journals in the Universities of Mosul and Dahuk has been installed; a partnership with CPA has been formed and renovation of a former Presidential palace into a Learning Center for Agriculture for the University of Mosul has begun; and satellite based communication and internet centers for students in Mosul and Dahuk have been installed.
- Under the SUNY Stony Brook Partnerships, five faculty were sponsored to attend a major archeology conference on the Near East; eight Iraqi students have been admitted to SUNY's archeological graduate studies; and Baghdad and Mosul archeology departments have been equipped with IT services.
3. Expand Economic Opportunity
Economic Growth - Substantive areas include: currency conversion, development of economic statistics, rationalizing small business credit, drafting commercial legislation, supporting a national employment program, strengthening micro-finance programs, creating a bank-to-bank payment system, implementing a computerized financial management information system, developing a tax policy and administration, budget planning, insurance reform, telecommunications reform, and electricity reform.
Accomplishments to Date:
With the Ministry of Finance, introduced the new national currency, the Iraqi dinar.
- The currency exchange began on October 15, 2003, and was completed on January 15, 2004.
- An estimated 6.36 trillion new Iraqi dinars are now in Iraq, and 4.62 trillion Iraqi dinars are circulating - 106 percent of the original demand estimate of 4.36 trillion.
Conducting regular currency auctions for banks to exchange dinars and dollars.
Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Employment Program.
Provided technical assistance on the implementation of a bank-to-bank payment system that allows 80 banks to send and receive payment instructions.
In support of the Iraqi Treasury's goal to improve Iraq's commercial banking system, USAID is working with the CPA to reconcile and close the year-end 2003 financial statements of Iraq's two largest banks - the state-owned Rasheed and Rafidain - to ensure that the statements are consistent with international accounting standards.
Assisting in developing, installing, and training staff to use the Financial Management Information System, a new accounting and reporting system that will eventually be used by all Iraqi ministries.
Assisted CPA in managing a $21-million micro-credit program.
Evaluating and updating commercial laws pertaining to private sector and foreign investment; assisted in the development of the new company law.
Assisted in developing the reconstruction levy in collaboration with the CPA and the UK Customs Service; this levy imposes a five percent tariff on imports to Iraq.
Highlights this Week:
The Central Statistics Organization (CSO) has completed surveys for seven economic sectors; these data will be used for estimating gaps in GDP and in balance of payments for Iraq. This information will be critical for economic and financial planning. The surveys included: the manufacturing industrial survey; the oil refining products survey; the private imports survey; the transportation and communications survey; the construction materials survey; a survey on remittances through families; and a hotel occupancy survey. The gathering of this information is helping Iraq to meet data requirements for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in preparation for an IMF stabilization program in Iraq, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in July. These surveys were also used as training on data analysis methodology for CSO staff.
- In collaboration with the CPA, USAID is providing technical support and training to CSO staff to build their capacity to use modern statistical data and forecasting techniques. With this assistance, the CSO will be able to collect, validate, analyze, and report on key economic indicators to support policy analysis and decision making by the government of Iraq and by the IMF.
A credit policy manual for Iraq's Rasheed and Rafidain banks, Iraq's largest state-owned banks, is nearing completion. A final draft is expected to be completed and translated into Arabic this week. This new manual will be tailored to Rafidain and Rasheed Bank's individual policies. Currently, credit policy guidelines are not outlined in one comprehensive document, but are detailed in a series of circulars and memos.
Three credit training courses, which highlight the new credit policies, have been conducted for the staff of the Rafidain and Rasheed banks since the beginning of April. The training will ensure that staff is familiar with the new credit processes. A credit policies and concepts course for middle management is expected to be held in early June.
The final regulations of Iraq's newly revised banking law have been drafted; this accomplishment is among the final components necessary to provide the banking system with a modernized and internationally-recognized regulatory framework. The law gives Central Bank staff the legal and punitive authority to enforce proper banking activities. The recently drafted regulations provide rules for fixed and liquid assets; credit classification; provisioning; capitalization of interest; loan procedures; and limitations on bank, property, plant, and equipment holdings.
In addition to supporting the development of banking regulations, Central Bank officials now use a standardized process to assess Iraqi bank activities. The new process is based on the CAMEL (capital, assets, management, earnings and liquidity, sensitivity to market risk) rating system, used in many countries. The CAMEL policy is complete and has been submitted to Central Bank management officials for review before adoption. The policy will support the use of risk based supervision by bank supervision staff at the Central Bank. The manual which supports on-site examinations of bank activities is also being developed. This activity is one of several initiatives supported by USAID to build the capacity of Central Bank staff to transparently supervise the activities of Iraq's banking sector.
On May 17, the Loan and Grant Management Unit of the Directorate General for the Iraqi Fund for External Development was officially established by the Ministry of Finance. This new unit will track and disperse funds pledged at the Iraq Donor's Conference in Madrid, held in October 2003. USAID partner BearingPoint worked with the Ministry to establish this unit, developed its operational guidelines for the unit, and trained its staff.
Five programmers from the Iraq Tax Commission have begun a two-month training on information technology system development. They will first be trained in Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL Server, and Crystal Reports. After completion of the training, they will assist in developing an IT infrastructure to increase the accuracy and timeliness of tax collection in Iraq. As a first step, the programmers will develop a corporate registration system to improve collection of corporate taxes, which were implemented in April 2004. This training is being performed by USAID partner BearingPoint.
Food Security -- Objectives include: providing oversight support for the countrywide Public Distribution System, which provides basic food and non-food commodities to an estimated 25 million Iraqis, participating in the design of a monetary assistance program to replace the commodity-based distribution system to support local production and free-market infrastructure, and promoting comprehensive agriculture reform to optimize private participation in production and wholesale markets.
Accomplishments to Date:
Worked with the UN World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish Iraq's Public Distribution System (PDS) in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and maintaining food security.
Contributed cash and food aid totaling $425 million to WFP's emergency operations immediately following the conflict, making the United States the foremost contributor to WFP emergency operations in Iraq.
Placed food specialists in Baghdad, Al Basrah, Al Hillah, and Arbil to support food operations immediately after the conflict.
Provided ongoing support and technical assistance to WFP and local Iraqi authorities in the Ministry of Trade and the Kurdish Food Departments to ensure the smooth transition of PDS management tasks to the Iraqi government. Special attention was given to the transition phase in the northern governorates of Dahuk, As Sulaymaniyah, and Arbil. The initial handover of responsibilities occurred on November 21, 2003, without significant problems.
Played a role in negotiating a memorandum of understanding between the CPA, the Ministry of Trade, and the WFP that details areas of responsibility including: capacity building and training, procurement of food commodities, renegotiation of food contracts, shipment and overland transport of food commodities, and pipeline management. The WFP will continue to support the public distribution system through June 2004 and will begin work immediately to assure continuation of food deliveries.
Currently providing food aid expertise to CPA and Ministry of Trade in Baghdad and assisting WFP, CPA and the Ministry continue to distribute food to all Iraqis.
Agriculture -- Objectives include: expanding agricultural productivity, restoring the capacity of agroenterprises to produce, process, and market agricultural goods and services, nurturing access to rural financial services, and improving land and water resource management.
Accomplishments to Date:
Since October 2003, USAID partner DAI has been implementing the Agricultural Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) to formulate a long-term vision for the sector, while designing activities for quick impact including:
Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: On 334 hectares in 15 governorates, 128 farm families are establishing plots with new crop varieties for extension field days.
Kirkuk Veterinary Hospital Renovation: The renovation of this hospital was completed in early April 2003 under a $96,000 ARDI grant; the hospital serves more than 100,000 livestock in the area.
Taza and Rashad Veterinary Clinic Rehabilitation: This project was completed in early April 2003 through a $50,000 grant which was matched by supplies and equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture. These rural clinics are the two principal sources of vaccines and medicines for animals in 125 local communities.
Internet Connectivity and Repairs to a Student Union Building: The Baghdad University School of Agriculture will receive a $75,000 grant that will benefit 4,509 students.
Seven grants, totaling $394,000, were approved in February 2004 to build the capacity of Iraq's agriculture sector. The grants' emphasis on veterinary programs allows an immediate, highly visible response to the challenges that face herders and farmers in the North and Central regions.
The Ministry of Agriculture is establishing 18 date palm nurseries throughout Iraq in support of its goal to reestablish Iraq's dominant position in the international date market, a position it lost under the former regime. Dates are a national treasure for Iraq with both symbolic and economic significance. This project, which receives support and technical assistance from USAID, will ensure the preservation of Iraq's 621 varieties of date palm.
Developed a transition plan for the Iraq Ministry of Agriculture to move the agricultural sector from a command and control production and marketing system to one which is market-driven.
Initiated a program supporting agricultural extension services for farmers in As Sulaymaniyah Governorate in late May. Eight extension agents are working with farmers to teach agricultural best practices. The agents are encouraging farmers to analyze their own problems and independently develop solutions. In collaboration with USAID, the Ministry of Agriculture expects to replicate the program in other villages and governorates, as extension services have been successful in increasing agricultural productivity in developing countries around the world.
Highlights this Week
The Ministry of Agriculture's Crop Technology Demonstrations are improving agricultural productivity in Ad Diwaniyah, 170 km south of Baghdad. Diwaniyah is known for producing many crops, including rice, wheat, barley, cotton, and vegetables. However, the high salinity of the soil in the area lowers crop yields. The demonstrations introduce new technologies and practices to overcome the salinity problem. The week of May 17, farmers in Diwaniyah attended a briefing to learn more about the results of the demonstration. An Iraqi plant breeder explained salt tolerant varieties of wheat and the agricultural practices that must be followed to grow the varieties. The practices include land preparation, soil testing, plowing, leveling, sowing, and irrigating.
Marshlands -- Objectives include: construct environmental, social and economic baselines for the remaining and former marshlands, assist marsh dwellers by creating economic opportunities and viable social institutions, improve the management of marshlands, and expand restoration activities.
Accomplishments to Date:
Operating at both national and regional levels, the Marshlands Restoration Program developed an integrated strategy for wetland restoration and management and providing social and economic assistance to Marsh Arabs.
The first date palm nursery was established with 1,000 mother trees of different varieties in Al-Medinah. The trees will produce 10,000 off-shoots, of which about 7,000 will survive.
The Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Public Works have selected a first site to build a constructed wetlands for treating domestic wastewater. The service area is the largest settlement in the marshlands, Al-Chibayish town, and will serve roughly 5,000 people.
Demonstrations of alfalfa cultivation to improve livestock nutrition and dairy production in five locations in between Al-Chibayish and Al-Medina are ongoing.
The program will re-establish a water and soil laboratory in the Ministry of Water Resources headquarters in Baghdad. A proposed list of equipment has been developed and is being reviewed by the Ministry staff for immediate procurement and training in their use.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ministry of Water Resources are jointly developing a hydrologic model of the Tigris and Euphrates basin.
Work began on setting up demonstration plots for field crops and horticulture in eight locations in the marshlands. Plans are underway to do soil and water analyses at possible demonstration sites. The program is recruiting staff to implement the establishment of date palm nurseries for growing and distributing off-shoots.
4. Improve Efficiency and Accountability of Government
Local Governance -- Objectives include: promoting diverse and representative citizen participation in provincial, municipal and local councils; strengthening the management skills of city and provincial administrations, local interim representative bodies, and civic institutions to improve the delivery of essential municipal services; promoting effective advocacy and participation of civil society organizations; enhancing leadership skills; and serving as a recruiting tool for future leaders.
Accomplishments to Date:
Implementing local governance activities in 18 governorates. More than 20 million Iraqis engage in policy discourse through local government entities and civil society organizations to:
- Enhance transparency and participation in local decision-making processes.
- Restore basic services.
- Improve the effectiveness of local service delivery.
- Establish, develop, and expand the number of civil society organizations that can interact with local government entities.
Established 16 governorate councils, 91 district councils, 194 city or subdistrict councils, and 445 neighborhood councils.
Awarded $16.7 million to government agencies and civil society organizations to enable municipal authorities to deliver core municipal services.
Committed $2.4 million to support the CPA's nationwide Civic Education Campaign, which facilitates dialogue and increases democracy awareness.
Supporting preparation of 2004 city council budgets in Mosul, Al Hillah, Babil, and An Najaf.
To date, USAID's Local Governance Program has conducted a total of 8,932 democracy dialogue activities throughout Iraq.
Highlights this Week:
The 98 village councils, created under USAID's Maysan Rural Council Program, have each been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Coalition Provisional Authority to implement priority projects in their communities. The grants were awarded after the completion of a four-part workshop conducted by USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) on democracy, parliamentary procedures, participatory decision-making, and project management. The villagers have chosen to implement projects such as electrical repairs, water network repairs, road paving, new classrooms, and street lighting.
Local government officials continue to increase their capacity to manage local affairs and provide services efficiently. The training sessions help ensure the continuity of local government services through the political transition this summer and during the Interim Iraq Government. Nearly 50 Baghdad staff participated in computer, English and public relations courses at the Amanat training center. In Al Hillah, 56 participants from the Tourism, Health, and Education Directorates attended a computer training session. Sixty staff from the Traffic, Education, Agriculture Directorates as well as the University of Babylon participated in English language training in Al Hillah. These courses were supported by USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP), and were taught by Iraqi LGP instructors.
Iraqi Democracy Dialogue facilitators in southern Iraq are continuing to conduct sessions. In Maysan Governorate, Iraqi staff have conducted multiple presentations daily at colleges, factories, hospitals, courts, and government ministries. The sessions covered the role of the media, federalism, and the role of women. They conducted meetings on the Transitional Administrative Law, the political transition on June 30th, elections, the role of the CPA, and national reconciliation. The Democracy Dialogue Activity is supported by the LGP and is part of the Civic Education Program, which informs Iraqis on the transition to sovereignty.
The Salah ad Din Chamber of Commerce is developing a Trade Center in Tikrit to support regional investment and businesses within a market economy. The center will assist in awarding local government contracts; provide advisory services to prospective investors on local investment and trade opportunities; and involve civic organizations in the transformation to a market economy. The Tikrit Business Center, located in the Trade Center, will provide micro finance and business development services to Salah ad Din citizens. The proposal for the Business Center has been completed and USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) will provide small grants for furnishings and equipment. LGP will train the center's staff so that they can impart business development training to Iraqi entrepreneurs.
Local government officials throughout Iraq are training to deliver services in a more efficient, accountable, and transparent manner. In Tikrit, (Salah ad Din Governorate) the Governorate Council is receiving training on the incorporation of technical input in project development; the oversight mechanisms of advisory councils; project execution through local government staff; beneficiary participation in project development; quality control; citizen complaint systems; media involvement; anticorruption measures; and transparency mechanisms. Other recent trainings include:
- In Baghdad, a two-week budget and management training for governorate sanitation directors is being conducted. The training includes instruction on the proposed Amanat Financial Accounting System.
- In Al Hillah (Babil Governorate), eight electricity distribution engineers are being trained on the development of departmental plans. This training will help them to independently manage their departments and projects in an efficient manner after June 30.
More than 100 women participated in a conference on women's rights on May 23 in Maysan Governorate. The conference covered the legal rights of women and family law; women's participation in the political sphere; Islam and politics; and literacy. Attendees expressed their concerns regarding the lack of financial support to build schools and the lack of access to public services such as clean water and trash collection. At the end of the conference, one participant summed up the conference by stating "The important thing is to act, not just talk, because talking is useless; we need many things like health, education, and other public services."
The rehabilitation of an As Sulaymaniyah elementary school is nearly complete. This project is being coordinated with the Directorate of Education and is supporting the local governments' efforts to deliver education services. Upon completion, the newly rehabilitated school will benefit more than 700 students in a disadvantaged neighborhood of As Sulaymaniyah.
On May 16, the Kirkuk Sewerage Directorate set up a citizen forum to help officials obtain input on the concept, design, and funding for the a sewage improvements project in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Kirkuk city. The neighborhood includes 2,000 houses with an average occupancy of six people. Its main sewer system consists of open dirt drainage ditches between houses, which have created an open stream of sewage, posing a health hazard to the community. The project will create an underground drainage system 1,100 meters long with 1m by 2m concrete box culverts. The Sewerage Directorate will then install a compact treatment unit at the end of the line. This initiative is being funded by an LGP rapid response grant. LGP is also offering training on planning, design, bidding, construction, and project closeout processes to Directorate staff. The Sewerage Directorate is now in the process of preparing plans, specifications, and bid documents for the project.
From May 16 to 20, 74 democracy dialogue activities involving nearly 1,600 people took place in Baghdad. Participants discussed elections, minority rights, the constitution, conflict resolution, transparency, gender equality, human rights, tolerance, democracy and youth, national reconciliation, accountability, and civic - military relations. The sessions were held at schools, municipal offices, ministries, district councils, neighborhood councils, and NGO offices. Democracy Dialogue Activities are part of the CPA's Civic Dialogue Campaign that disseminates information on democracy and the political transition.
The Basrah Governorate Council is developing a three-year capital budget, based on data collected from 10 ministries. Once data are collected from all the ministries, criteria will be developed and used to select priority projects for the capital budget. The development of the budget is one of several projects supported by USAID's Local Governance Program to build the operational capacity of the Governorate Council. The Governorate Council is also developing a procedural handbook and developing a detailed map of the governorate with the support of LGP.
Transition Initiatives -- Objectives include: building and sustaining Iraqi confidence in the transition to a participatory, stable, and democratic Iraq and working closely with the CPA, USAID's Iraq Transition Initiative assists Iraqi NGOs, national government institutions, and local governments to increase Iraqi support for the transition to sovereignty through quick-dispersing, high impact small grants.
Accomplishments to Date:
Awarded 860 small grants totaling more than $56 million for quick impact activities that support good governance, civil society, conflict management and mitigation, and human rights and transitional justice.
Supporting initiatives crucial to the democratic transition, including civic education, civil society and media development, increased women's participation, conflict mitigation, and transitional justice. Groups targeted for assistance include women's and youth groups, professional associations, and human rights organizations.
Met critical needs during and immediately after the conflict by providing short-term employment, restoring basic government and community services, increasing Iraqi access to information and communication, and encouraging protection of human rights.
Funded over 55 grants totaling $3 million that focus on women's issues, including the establishment of 14 women's centers in Iraq. Rehabilitated over 130 Iraqi national ministries, schools, clinics and other municipal buildings. Supporting 23 Iraqi groups in documenting human rights abuses of the Ba'athist regime and promoting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.
Highlights this Week:
The Ba'qubah Cooperative Association is organizing three public events to promote discussion of democratic processes. The first event is a festival entitled "Music is a Democratic Activity" during which local artists will write and premiere folk songs about living in a democratic society. The second event is a symposium that will bring together local experts and citizens who wish to discuss the Transitional Administrative Law and its impact on the governorate. The final event will be an exhibition by local graphic artists who will describe a free democratic process through original posters. USAID's Iraq Transition Initiatives awarded a grant to the association to support these activities.
The Ministry of Human Rights in Arbil Governorate is establishing Citizen Advice Bureaus to provide a mechanism for people to register claims about violations of their rights. Although substantial progress has been made in codifying laws that prohibit human rights abuses in northern Iraq, violations still occur. The Bureaus will offer consulting and training services to increase public awareness about human rights. Four offices are being established in Akre, Dahuk, Soran and Zakhu. Each will receive equipment and furniture from the Iraq Transition Initiative so that they may begin their work.
An Iraqi NGO, The National Center for Protecting Peace has received a grant supporting building rental, the purchase of furniture, equipment and other costs associated with starting up an NGO. The National Center for Protecting Peace will work to promote peace and stability through media campaigns, and by distributing posters and other published materials. The focus of this effort will be on how to use peaceful means to combat violent acts. USAID's Iraq Transition Initiative provided the grant.
The Iraqi Special Tribunal was established in December 2003 to investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity committed under the former regime. The week of May 17, two grants were approved to support the organization's on-going work. The first grant provides supplies and office equipment, including specialized computer software for managing and protecting evidence. The second grant will provide office space and enhance the security of all Tribunal facilities. These awards, provided through USAID's Iraq Transition Initiative, facilitate the functioning of the Tribunal so that trials can be conducted in a fair, efficient manner consistent with international human rights standards.
Community Action Program -- Objectives include: promoting diverse, representative citizen participation in and among communities to identify, prioritize, and satisfy critical community needs, while utilizing local resources. CAP is implemented by five U.S. NGOs with offices in nine major Iraqi cities. Each concentrates on one region in Iraq: ACDI/VOCA (North), International Relief and Development-- IRD (Baghdad), Cooperative Housing Foundation International--CHF (Southwest Central), Mercy Corps (Southeast Central), and Save the Children (South).
Accomplishments to Date:
Established more than 650 Community Action Groups in 17 governorates. The projects undertaken by these groups are part of a campaign targeting grassroots democratic development.
CAP has committed $51 million for 1,397 community projects across Iraq; 976 projects have already been completed.
Iraqi communities have contributed more than 25 percent of the value of the community projects. Contributions have included labor, land, buildings, and other in-kind assistance.
ACDI/VOCA focuses on areas of Mosul, Kirkuk and the Iran-Iraq border. Their work has resulted in 236 completed projects and another 52 in development. These include establishing a youth center in Hawija and developing a new local water supply in Tikrit.
CHF has established a strong presence in the communities of the Shi'i holy cities of Najaf and Karbala', as well as Hillah by facilitating very active community associations. A strong emphasis on critical infrastructure needs has provided these communities with results such as sewage and water rehabilitation, school repairs, swamp clean-up, and repairs to vital social infrastructure. They have completed 117 projects.
IRD has completed 270 projects in working with 142 community action groups. Income generation is an important emphasis. A marketplace for over 700 vendors is being constructed, and crews are cleaning up medical waste dumps and educating medical personnel on proper disposal methods.
Mercy Corps has completed 122 projects and 63 more are in development. In the Shi'i heartland, these projects are addressing needs resulting from decades of governmental neglect and focus on water, sewerage, community clean-up, and school rehabilitation.
Save the Children has completed 298 projects through 138 community action groups which average 33 percent women's participation. Projects have focused primarily on immediate community needs such as sewage clean up, water treatment and distribution, public health, and girls' access to education.
Highlights this Week:
A new cooperative supported by USAID will provide jobs for 150 women. As a result of the new equipment and refurbished building, the cooperative is now planning to conduct training in dress making for a new group of women who will become potential workers. Before the conflict, this cooperative consisted of 300 seamstresses who produced clothing for women and children. Unfortunately, the cooperative was looted after the war and parts of the building were burned, causing the seamstresses to lose their jobs. Working with USAID Community Action Program partner International Relief and Development, community members identified this project as a priority to increase economic opportunities for local women. Work on the cooperative, which included rehabilitating the building, supplying furniture, and providing 24 sewing machines, began at the end of January 2004. This project supports IRD's goal to increase employment opportunities for Iraqis and improve their skills.
Community members renovated a park which was being used as a garbage dump in the city of Kirkuk (At' Tamim Governorate). The neighborhood residents cleaned the park, planted trees and flowers and installed playground equipment for the children. New fences, walkways, washrooms and street lights were also installed. More than 1,000 neighborhood residents are benefiting from the rehabilitation of this new park. The park had been unsafe for the city's children and represented a significant health risk due to the garbage which attracted flies and rats. This project was supported by USAID Community Action Program partner ACDI/VOCA.
Iraqi communities are coming together to clean up the public spaces in their neighborhoods. Due to poor maintenance and inadequate services from local governments in the past, many of Iraq's parks and open land are used as dumps. These areas have become a threat to public health, as they provide a breeding ground for disease and are unsafe for children that play in the communities. With the support of USAID's Community Action Program, the communities are organizing themselves to improve their neighborhoods. This process instills a sense of pride and ownership in the projects, facilitating long-term project sustainability. Recent initiatives include:
- A 6,000 square meter plot of land in Baghdad's Adhamiya district has been converted from a dump to a football field, providing youth with a place to safely play sports. The local youth love to play sports and play in any open area, including empty lots filled with garbage. This problem caused community members to identify the project as a priority in their neighborhood. Work on the project began on January 19 and within four months the land was cleared and ready for use. More than 450 residents are benefiting from this initiative.
- Community members in the city of Al Khalis in Salah ad Din Governorate have begun establishing a new park for children and their families to enjoy. The city of about 125,000 people did not have any public park areas for its residents. The community contributed a five acre piece of land in the center of town as a site for the project. Community members are now helping to build a community center, water fountains, pathways, lighting systems, small vendor shops, and a surrounding fence. The entire park will be covered in trees, flowers, and green grass.
Community members in the Piryadi quarter of Kirkuk city have installed a new sewage system and paved streets. The Piryadi quarter is a poor area in northern Kirkuk, located in At' Tamim Governorate. The dirt streets were impassible during the winter rainy season, and filthy with open sewers even during the dry season. The local sewage system was outdated and poorly maintained, causing infestations of disease. Community members now benefit from cleaner and safer streets.
Residents of Tuz in Salah ad Din Governorate are constructing a new sewage system to prevent the spread of disease in their neighborhood. Tuz is a very old city on the main trading routes between northern and southern Iraq. own has no sewage system, causing all sewage to go through an open channel that passes like a river through the town's market and residential areas. This system breeds and spreads diseases, encourages insect growth and contributes to children's ill health. In addition, heavy rainfall sometimes floods the channel spreading sewage across the town's marketplace. The community worked with ACDI/VOCA to implement this project. Community members provided the pipes that will carry the sewage outside of town while ACDI/VOCA is funding the installation of the pipes.
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Rebuilding continues to progress in Diyala Province
Baghdad, Iraq In Diyala, the schools renovation project is currently repairing 29 schools throughout the province. Located just northwest of Baghdad, Diyala has a population of about 1.7 million.
School renovations provide students with an improved learning environment and help inspire pride in the local community. The project will positively affect more than 10,000 Iraqi students and boost the local economy in the form of labor, materials, and subcontracts. The use of local contractors and local labor has been instrumental in inspiring pride in the local communities and injecting money into the local economies.
The schools renovation project has successfully taken the reconstruction of Iraq to the Iraqi people on a local level. Renovation projects have a much shorter construction period producing almost instantaneous results to a very large base of Iraqi citizens.
Five school renovation projects were finished in March, with April’s projected completions bringing the total number of schools renovated in the province to 26.
Work continues on more than 20 Security and Justice Projects, including several border forts, border posts, and point of entry facilities.
At the end of March, 89 projects were completed within the Gulf Region Northern District, or GRN. Currently there are more than 475 projects in progress, with more than 180 projects forecast completed in April. Another 99 projects are forecast to begin in April.
GRN’s area of responsibility includes the seven northern provinces of Iraq: Dahok, Diyala, Erbil, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah ad Din and Sulaymaniyah.
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Fallujah hospital to be rebuilt
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — The three-story hospital in downtown Fallujah sits empty and abandoned, but with funds allocated through the Commanders Emergency Response Program and a private donor, this is about to change.
The Taleb Janabi Hospital, a privately-owned facility, will receive $150,000 in CERP funds and the owner, Dr. Taleb Janabi, will contribute an additional $50,000.
This case is unusual because typically CERP funds can only be spent on public projects. However, this is the only hospital within the city.
We got a waiver because of how important this is and because of Dr. Janabi’s commitment to give free care, said Cmdr. Dale W. Greenwood, health care and preventive medicine officer, 5th Civil Affairs Group.
Janabi also offered to provide medical care for two years to all Iraqi Police and Iraqi Security Forces stationed inside Fallujah, said Greenwood, who is an American Fork, Utah resident.
This is truly a collaborative effort here, said Army Col. Terry Parker, chief of clinical operations, Surgeon’s Office, Multi-National Forces-Iraq. It was great creative problem solving to address the immediate needs of Fallujah.
In addition to the renovations at Janabi, the following are ongoing and upcoming medical projects in Fallujah:
Fallujah General Hospital is slate

This message is a reply to:
 Message 89 by jar, posted 05-03-2005 12:19 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 91 by jar, posted 05-03-2005 4:50 PM Tal has replied
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