By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 15, 2008 - Iraq is entering a "time of hope," as its citizens' continue to step forward, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a previously unannounced trip to Baghdad today. Rice, who is traveling with President Bush on his trip to the Middle East, broke off from the party in Saudi Arabia for meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Mahmud Zebari in Baghdad.
President Bush said during a media availability in Riyadh that Rice's trip was to encourage Iraqi leaders to continue to make political progress.
"It seemed to make sense that she ... go and sit down with the leaders and encourage them to continue making progress," the president said.
The Iraqi legislature had passed a de-Baathification law to make it easier for some members of the country's former regime to work with the new government, and is working on revenue-sharing as well as hydrocarbon and election laws.
"I was in the neighborhood, and I thought I should stop by," Rice said during a news conference in Baghdad with Zebari.
Rice said that at every stop the president has made during his trip, he has been asked about the situation in Iraq.
The president "has talked about the importance that Iraq's neighbors support a democratic and unified Iraq," Rice said. "The efforts that are being made here toward democracy and reconciliation are critical, not just for the future of Iraq, but for the future of the region and indeed for the future of the world."
Rice said the current plan to redeploy four brigades of U.S. soldiers back to the United States by the summer still stands. A fifth brigade combat team already has redeployed. What happens to U.S. troop levels in Iraq after that will depend on progress on the ground, she said.
The president's decision will be based on advice from commanders after the situation is "assessed in real terms," Rice said. The assessment will include the capabilities of the Iraqi forces and the capabilities of the enemy.
"The president is going to make those decisions based on what is needed to continue the progress that has been seen," she said. "But he has said that he believes we are on track for the initial drawdown that (Army) General (David H.) Petraeus talked about back in Washington. Anything further he'll have to look at."
Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, made his recommendations in a September report to Congress.
The president's Middle East trip is happening at a time of hope in Iraq, Rice said. Security progress is the most noticeable, "but I must say from the time that I was here a month ago, I've seen also progress on the political front, particularly in the reconciliation that the Iraqi people themselves are carrying out at the grassroots (level)," she said. "You are seeing citizens emerge who are determined to fight the extremists, the terrorists, the foreign fighters who have been a scourge to this country and have endangered the lives of Iraqis and stability of this country."
As the citizens are fighting back and taking control, Iraqi provincial leadership is emerging and moving forward, she said. "I also have had discussions with the national leadership during my time here, and there seems to be a spirit of cooperation to move forward on the national front as well," she said.
Iraqi and U.S. leaders are working on a long-term treaty between the two nations, Rice and Zebari said.
"Until we are able to stand on our feet, the United States is a strategic and strong ally to Iraq," Zebari said through a translator. "The United States has similar agreements with other Arab states."
The secretary noted that the United States has been an important stabilizing force in the Middle East and Persian Gulf for decades. "We look forward to a relationship with Iraq for the long term that would be befitting of friends that have sacrificed together to bring into being this democratic Iraq, and to contributing to the stability of Iraq and the stability of this whole region," she said.
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
U.S. Must Stay With Fight in Iraq, Ambassador Says
By Sgt. Sara Moore, USA
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2008 - The United States must maintain its resolve to win the war against terrorism and strengthen the Iraqi government, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said in a recent interview. "We have to stay with this; this is hard," Ryan C. Crocker said in a Jan. 9 interview with Soldiers Radio and Television in Baghdad. "There are going to be more bad days, but increasingly, we're seeing good days as well. The consequences of not succeeding in Iraq for the stability of the region, for the health of the international economy, and for America's own security, are very grave indeed."
The coalition in Iraq is starting 2008 in a much better position than it started 2007, due to improvements in security and economic and political developments, Crocker said. The security improvements have helped to clear up the situation in Iraq and more clearly define the coalition's goals for the next year, he said.
The first goal for 2008 is maintaining security in Iraq, and maintaining it with an increasingly Iraqi force, Crocker said. This means the coalition needs to place more emphasis on developing Iraqi security forces, so they can take over more responsibility, he said.
A second important goal for the year is providing services for the Iraqi people, Crocker noted. "The Iraqi people need to feel a difference in their lives," he said. "Now that violence is down, they need to see that the hours of electricity increase; they need to see that they're getting water; they need to see schools reopened; they need to see job opportunities."
Tied into the need for essential services is the need for political progress, Crocker said. He noted that the "bottom-up" reconciliation of 2007 has been very successful, but that it must be met with reconciliation from the central government level.
The central government has made progress, most notably on the economic front, Crocker said. While there an oil revenue distribution law has yet to be passed, the government is still distributing those revenues to the provinces, and the Iraqis have started using supplemental budget appropriations, he said. Despite these gains, the government still needs to pass key legislative initiatives, such as de-Baathification reform, he said.
Provincial reconstruction teams have been a huge success in Iraq, teaming representatives from the State Department and Defense Department and Iraqis to help Iraqis rebuild their society, Crocker said. The coalition now has 24 teams with about 800 people, both civilian and military. Each PRT has officials specifically tailored to an area's needs, he said, and "overall they've made a remarkable difference in the quality of life and the quality of governance in the provinces."
The outcome in Iraq is directly relevant to Middle East stability and U.S. security, Crocker said. He urged Americans to remember the sacrifices the men and women of the military are making as they serve in the Middle East, and to have patience with the fight against terrorism.
"Look at the improvement, take heart from that, and I hope that our citizens everywhere will display the resolve to stay the course here," he said. "We're on the right track, but we cannot prematurely declare victory."
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2008 - The United States must maintain its resolve to win the war against terrorism and strengthen the Iraqi government, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said in a recent interview. "We have to stay with this; this is hard," Ryan C. Crocker said in a Jan. 9 interview with Soldiers Radio and Television in Baghdad. "There are going to be more bad days, but increasingly, we're seeing good days as well. The consequences of not succeeding in Iraq for the stability of the region, for the health of the international economy, and for America's own security, are very grave indeed."
The coalition in Iraq is starting 2008 in a much better position than it started 2007, due to improvements in security and economic and political developments, Crocker said. The security improvements have helped to clear up the situation in Iraq and more clearly define the coalition's goals for the next year, he said.
The first goal for 2008 is maintaining security in Iraq, and maintaining it with an increasingly Iraqi force, Crocker said. This means the coalition needs to place more emphasis on developing Iraqi security forces, so they can take over more responsibility, he said.
A second important goal for the year is providing services for the Iraqi people, Crocker noted. "The Iraqi people need to feel a difference in their lives," he said. "Now that violence is down, they need to see that the hours of electricity increase; they need to see that they're getting water; they need to see schools reopened; they need to see job opportunities."
Tied into the need for essential services is the need for political progress, Crocker said. He noted that the "bottom-up" reconciliation of 2007 has been very successful, but that it must be met with reconciliation from the central government level.
The central government has made progress, most notably on the economic front, Crocker said. While there an oil revenue distribution law has yet to be passed, the government is still distributing those revenues to the provinces, and the Iraqis have started using supplemental budget appropriations, he said. Despite these gains, the government still needs to pass key legislative initiatives, such as de-Baathification reform, he said.
Provincial reconstruction teams have been a huge success in Iraq, teaming representatives from the State Department and Defense Department and Iraqis to help Iraqis rebuild their society, Crocker said. The coalition now has 24 teams with about 800 people, both civilian and military. Each PRT has officials specifically tailored to an area's needs, he said, and "overall they've made a remarkable difference in the quality of life and the quality of governance in the provinces."
The outcome in Iraq is directly relevant to Middle East stability and U.S. security, Crocker said. He urged Americans to remember the sacrifices the men and women of the military are making as they serve in the Middle East, and to have patience with the fight against terrorism.
"Look at the improvement, take heart from that, and I hope that our citizens everywhere will display the resolve to stay the course here," he said. "We're on the right track, but we cannot prematurely declare victory."
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Economic Task Force Works to Move Iraq 'From Front Pages to Business Pages'
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 4, 2007 - A task force designed to bolster Iraq's industry has made "measurable progress," placing scores of Iraqi workers in sustainable jobs since the program's June 2006 inception, the deputy secretary of defense said today. The Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq is "an important dimension" to current overall efforts in Iraq, Gordon England told reporters during a briefing here at the Pentagon.
"All societies need sustainable jobs. People need to be employed to have income to provide for their families, and Iraq is no different," England said. "It is important that we move Iraq from the front pages to the business pages of our newspapers."
A business conference held recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, brought together more than 600 participants representing Iraqi business and government, and foreign corporations, the deputy secretary said.
"The objective of conferences like these is to encourage foreign-direct investment in Iraqi companies and to increase the demand for Iraqi goods," said England, who noted that some 75 potential investors attended the conference.
Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation and task force director, echoed England's comments, saying that efforts over the past 15 months have made "material impact." In that time, private business owners in Iraq have been awarded more than 3,000 contracts, said Brinkley, citing one U.S. official who estimates that these contracts will generate some 50,000 new jobs.
Brinkley called unemployment "a major contributor to instability." He added that economic development brings a reward to stable areas, which enhances security forces' ability to maintain security.
"There's no human population in the world that can sustain high levels of unemployment ... and not experience intended violence, unrest, sympathy with violent actors," he said. "This is why this effort is so important to the Department of Defense."
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 4, 2007 - A task force designed to bolster Iraq's industry has made "measurable progress," placing scores of Iraqi workers in sustainable jobs since the program's June 2006 inception, the deputy secretary of defense said today. The Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq is "an important dimension" to current overall efforts in Iraq, Gordon England told reporters during a briefing here at the Pentagon.
"All societies need sustainable jobs. People need to be employed to have income to provide for their families, and Iraq is no different," England said. "It is important that we move Iraq from the front pages to the business pages of our newspapers."
A business conference held recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, brought together more than 600 participants representing Iraqi business and government, and foreign corporations, the deputy secretary said.
"The objective of conferences like these is to encourage foreign-direct investment in Iraqi companies and to increase the demand for Iraqi goods," said England, who noted that some 75 potential investors attended the conference.
Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation and task force director, echoed England's comments, saying that efforts over the past 15 months have made "material impact." In that time, private business owners in Iraq have been awarded more than 3,000 contracts, said Brinkley, citing one U.S. official who estimates that these contracts will generate some 50,000 new jobs.
Brinkley called unemployment "a major contributor to instability." He added that economic development brings a reward to stable areas, which enhances security forces' ability to maintain security.
"There's no human population in the world that can sustain high levels of unemployment ... and not experience intended violence, unrest, sympathy with violent actors," he said. "This is why this effort is so important to the Department of Defense."
Monday, April 23, 2007
Success Ultimately Up to Iraqis, New U.S. Ambassador Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
April 23, 2007 – Success in Iraq is possible, but achieving that success will ultimately be the task of Iraq's new government and its people, the top U.S. diplomat in Iraq told reporters in Baghdad today. "The road ahead is going to be a tough one. I don't begin my tour here with any illusions," Ryan C. Crocker said during his first news conference as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
However, "success is possible (in Iraq)," he emphasized. "Otherwise I wouldn't be standing here."
The purpose of the U.S.-Iraqi surge of troops into Baghdad and Anbar province is to increase security and establish a window so the fledging Iraqi government can get onto its feet and resolve a number of pressing issues, Crocker said.
"What it does is buy time for what ultimately has to be a set of political understandings among Iraqis," said Crocker, who succeeded Zalmay Khalilzad as ambassador to Iraq on March 29. Khalilzad is now the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
America and its allies are committed to standing by the fledgling Iraqi government and its people "as they strive to achieve progress on these critical political issues, that will truly guarantee the future of Iraq if they can be achieved," Crocker said.
Iraq has made great strides with its new constitution and democratic electoral process, the ambassador said, noting he has been impressed by the Iraqis' courage and resolve as they establish a new state.
Yet, "the months ahead will be critical," Crocker said, as U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces attempt to tamp down insurgent violence while the new government establishes it authority.
One of the "enormous challenges" confronting the Iraqi government involves reconciliation between the country's Sunni and Shiite population, Crocker said. To achieve this, he said, the Iraqi government needs to make constitutional and electoral reforms, enact hydrocarbon legislation that shares the country's oil wealth with all citizens, and resolve the deBaathification issue.
A regional ministerial conference scheduled in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on May 4 is an important event where senior ministers from Iraq and neighboring countries can discuss issues of mutual interest, Crocker said.
Boosting security in Baghdad and parts of western Iraq is just as important to Iraq's future, Crocker said. Al Qaeda is responsible for the recent car bombings in Baghdad, he said, as well as other terrorism that's been conducted to inflame Shiite-Sunni conflict in order to topple the new Iraqi government.
He said al Qaeda's decentralized mode of operation "increases the challenge of trying to get at them and to stop them." However, U.S., coalition and Iraqi officials are working hard to develop new strategies and countermeasures against al Qaeda in Iraq, he added.
Increasing security to prevent future terror attacks in Baghdad was the purpose of a seemingly stalled initiative to build a 3-mile-long, 12-foot-high concrete wall around Azamiyah, a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, Crocker said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reportedly asked that the project be stopped. Crocker said he didn't know what the project's current status was.
Meanwhile, although recent car bombings and other attacks in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq have been "very horrific," Crocker also noted they've not been the type of broad-based sectarian violence that has occurred before.
"In my judgment, what we're seeing now is, in fact, an effort to ignite that kind of sectarian violence," Crocker said. "And, I am impressed that thus far that has not been successful, that Iraqis have withstood the provocation to take revenge on other innocent Iraqis for the crimes inflicted on them."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
April 23, 2007 – Success in Iraq is possible, but achieving that success will ultimately be the task of Iraq's new government and its people, the top U.S. diplomat in Iraq told reporters in Baghdad today. "The road ahead is going to be a tough one. I don't begin my tour here with any illusions," Ryan C. Crocker said during his first news conference as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
However, "success is possible (in Iraq)," he emphasized. "Otherwise I wouldn't be standing here."
The purpose of the U.S.-Iraqi surge of troops into Baghdad and Anbar province is to increase security and establish a window so the fledging Iraqi government can get onto its feet and resolve a number of pressing issues, Crocker said.
"What it does is buy time for what ultimately has to be a set of political understandings among Iraqis," said Crocker, who succeeded Zalmay Khalilzad as ambassador to Iraq on March 29. Khalilzad is now the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
America and its allies are committed to standing by the fledgling Iraqi government and its people "as they strive to achieve progress on these critical political issues, that will truly guarantee the future of Iraq if they can be achieved," Crocker said.
Iraq has made great strides with its new constitution and democratic electoral process, the ambassador said, noting he has been impressed by the Iraqis' courage and resolve as they establish a new state.
Yet, "the months ahead will be critical," Crocker said, as U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces attempt to tamp down insurgent violence while the new government establishes it authority.
One of the "enormous challenges" confronting the Iraqi government involves reconciliation between the country's Sunni and Shiite population, Crocker said. To achieve this, he said, the Iraqi government needs to make constitutional and electoral reforms, enact hydrocarbon legislation that shares the country's oil wealth with all citizens, and resolve the deBaathification issue.
A regional ministerial conference scheduled in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on May 4 is an important event where senior ministers from Iraq and neighboring countries can discuss issues of mutual interest, Crocker said.
Boosting security in Baghdad and parts of western Iraq is just as important to Iraq's future, Crocker said. Al Qaeda is responsible for the recent car bombings in Baghdad, he said, as well as other terrorism that's been conducted to inflame Shiite-Sunni conflict in order to topple the new Iraqi government.
He said al Qaeda's decentralized mode of operation "increases the challenge of trying to get at them and to stop them." However, U.S., coalition and Iraqi officials are working hard to develop new strategies and countermeasures against al Qaeda in Iraq, he added.
Increasing security to prevent future terror attacks in Baghdad was the purpose of a seemingly stalled initiative to build a 3-mile-long, 12-foot-high concrete wall around Azamiyah, a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, Crocker said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reportedly asked that the project be stopped. Crocker said he didn't know what the project's current status was.
Meanwhile, although recent car bombings and other attacks in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq have been "very horrific," Crocker also noted they've not been the type of broad-based sectarian violence that has occurred before.
"In my judgment, what we're seeing now is, in fact, an effort to ignite that kind of sectarian violence," Crocker said. "And, I am impressed that thus far that has not been successful, that Iraqis have withstood the provocation to take revenge on other innocent Iraqis for the crimes inflicted on them."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Iraqi Government Making Progress, Ambassador Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
March 9, 2007 – While security remains the overriding concern in Iraq, the Iraqi government is making progress on the economic front, the coordinator for economic transition in Iraq, today said. The coordinator, Ambassador Timothy Carney; Jeremiah Pam U.S. Treasury attache with the embassy in Baghdad; and Joseph Gregoire, the embassy executive secretary with responsibility for provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq, spoke via teleconference from Baghdad with Pentagon reporters.
Carney said his job is to assist the Iraqis to realize their resources and their interests in giving services and economic development to their people. He also is responsible for trying to bring together different sources of U.S. money aimed at reconstruction.
"Clearly security is the most urgent problem," Carney said. "However, I submit that economic performance can make the government of Iraq ... a valid interlocutor for the vital political solution that is the true future of this country."
Iraq is a country rich in natural resources. It has the second largest proven oil resources in the world, after Saudi Arabia, and it has water. With irrigation, northern Iraq could be the Middle East's breadbasket, officials in Baghdad said.
Economic progress will mean political progress, Carney said, and the Iraqi government must start providing the services that people expect in modern states. "I'm particularly focused on the execution of Iraq's capital budget," he said.
This is not the operating budget that pays workers and pensions, but the budget that pays for things, whether it is water plants or electricity or sewage treatment plants and the like. This money for the capital budget will come from money Iraq earns from oil exports, he said.
Iraq's budget for 2006 was $34 billion, Pam said. However, the Iraqi government was only able to spend $26 billion of that. They have reprogrammed the money for this year, and Iraqi ministry officials are working to ensure the money is spent to the benefit of all Iraqis.
Pam said the Iraqi government is "showing a very strong indication of the readiness and the commitment and organization to do a better job spending that money and beginning capital projects."
In addition, provincial reconstruction teams are in business to help intermediate governments -- governates, cities and towns -- to build governing capacity, Gregoire said.
"PRTs have been using projects and training to promote transparency, accountability and more effective local government, as well as to promote reconciliation, build civil society and further economic recovery," he said.
The teams allow Iraqis to take the lead in determining what is funded and how projects should move forward, he said. The teams allow for rapid mobilization of resources to tackle long-term development issues.
The Baghdad team has 90 people -- roughly a third each from the military, civilian agencies and Iraqi government. It is designed to kick-start developmental processes. "Short-term gains build for long-term development and strengthen democratic gains," Gregoire said. "In Iraq, the PRT is supporting decentralization of government services."
He said the teams focus on five areas: the rule of law, infrastructure for the provision of essential services, economic development, governance and public diplomacy.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books as well as online criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 9, 2007 – While security remains the overriding concern in Iraq, the Iraqi government is making progress on the economic front, the coordinator for economic transition in Iraq, today said. The coordinator, Ambassador Timothy Carney; Jeremiah Pam U.S. Treasury attache with the embassy in Baghdad; and Joseph Gregoire, the embassy executive secretary with responsibility for provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq, spoke via teleconference from Baghdad with Pentagon reporters.
Carney said his job is to assist the Iraqis to realize their resources and their interests in giving services and economic development to their people. He also is responsible for trying to bring together different sources of U.S. money aimed at reconstruction.
"Clearly security is the most urgent problem," Carney said. "However, I submit that economic performance can make the government of Iraq ... a valid interlocutor for the vital political solution that is the true future of this country."
Iraq is a country rich in natural resources. It has the second largest proven oil resources in the world, after Saudi Arabia, and it has water. With irrigation, northern Iraq could be the Middle East's breadbasket, officials in Baghdad said.
Economic progress will mean political progress, Carney said, and the Iraqi government must start providing the services that people expect in modern states. "I'm particularly focused on the execution of Iraq's capital budget," he said.
This is not the operating budget that pays workers and pensions, but the budget that pays for things, whether it is water plants or electricity or sewage treatment plants and the like. This money for the capital budget will come from money Iraq earns from oil exports, he said.
Iraq's budget for 2006 was $34 billion, Pam said. However, the Iraqi government was only able to spend $26 billion of that. They have reprogrammed the money for this year, and Iraqi ministry officials are working to ensure the money is spent to the benefit of all Iraqis.
Pam said the Iraqi government is "showing a very strong indication of the readiness and the commitment and organization to do a better job spending that money and beginning capital projects."
In addition, provincial reconstruction teams are in business to help intermediate governments -- governates, cities and towns -- to build governing capacity, Gregoire said.
"PRTs have been using projects and training to promote transparency, accountability and more effective local government, as well as to promote reconciliation, build civil society and further economic recovery," he said.
The teams allow Iraqis to take the lead in determining what is funded and how projects should move forward, he said. The teams allow for rapid mobilization of resources to tackle long-term development issues.
The Baghdad team has 90 people -- roughly a third each from the military, civilian agencies and Iraqi government. It is designed to kick-start developmental processes. "Short-term gains build for long-term development and strengthen democratic gains," Gregoire said. "In Iraq, the PRT is supporting decentralization of government services."
He said the teams focus on five areas: the rule of law, infrastructure for the provision of essential services, economic development, governance and public diplomacy.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books as well as online criminal justice leadership.
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