On February 5, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division’s Central District (GRD) completed a new 16-classroom girls’ high school in Northern Baghdad. In addition, the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, financed through the Commander’s Emergency Response Fund, provided 225 two-person desks, blackboards, chalk, computers, file cabinets, installation of a new concrete basketball court, and school supplies for all students.
The community had been trying to get a new school built for years even before the Coalition forces arrived, but it was the Coalition forces’ generosity that made it happen. “We cannot adequately express our happiness on this special occasion,” Ali Bunni, deputy chairman of the Qada Council stated. “This is great news for the 40,000 residents in this area.” The school provides for an enrollment of up to 450 students. The school’s headmistress stated that most girls stopped attending school once they completed primary school. “The construction of this building offers these girls an opportunity to complete their secondary education at which point they can qualify for better job opportunities or college”
During the opening ceremonies, local sheiks participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony and all the students joined in a chant saying, “By working hard and education, we’ll build this country.”
The US Army Corps of Engineers, by the end of 2006, had constructed or renovated 962 schools – providing quality learning environments for more than 500,000 students.
This story also highlights a program called the Commander’s Emergency Response Fund (CERF) that was developed shortly after war. As stated above, the school's furnishings were provided through CERF funding. This program provides local battalion or brigade commanders with money to fund low-cost, high-impact humanitarian and small reconstruction projects that benefit the quality of life of the Iraqi people and contribute to our country’s stabilization efforts in Iraq. Initially funded by the millions of dollars of ill-gotten Ba’athist Party cash discovered by U.S. forces, this program continues to let our commanders act quickly, without becoming entangled in red tape and bureaucracy.
Despite 25 years of neglect and a costly insurgency, Iraq’s infrastructure is bouncing back and U.S. assistance projects are having a real impact on the lives of its people, rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure, supporting the emergence of democracy,and establishing a foundation for a strong economy.
For information on the CERF: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/0937.pdf
The opinions are my own. The details are from a 11 February 2007 news release by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office
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Comments: 39
Great article.
And "Iraq's infrastructure is boncing back"? Yeah. Right. But it sure is a pretty damned low, slow bounce. We still haven't been able to provide Iraqis with as much electrical power as was being generated pre-invasion (just one example), after how many years now? (I'm losing count.) This is progress? But hey, man, don't let me interrupt your hallucination, okay?
"Women Lose Ground in the New Iraq" at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121501744.html
and
"No Safety for Women in Iraq" at http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/45476/
Or read Riverbend at http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
"Americans write to me wondering, "But where are the educated Iraqis? Why didn't they vote for secular parties?" The educated Iraqis have been systematically silenced since 2003. They've been pressured and bullied outside of the country. They've been assassinated, detained, tortured and abducted. Many of them have lost faith in the possibility of a secular Iraq."
"Women's rights aren't a primary concern for anyone, anymore. People actually laugh when someone brings up the topic. "Let's keep Iraq united first…" is often the response when I comment about the prospect of Iranian-style Sharia."
The Washington Post article is based on an interview of only 16 Iraqi woman. The article mentions how the new government has even more women in positions of power than there were under Saddam. In fact, it mentions that since the Iran War, Saddam had been reducing women's rights as he embraced fundamentalism.
I will not even address the questionable sources of Alternet and Riverbend Blog, both known insurgent mouth pieces.
The concerns raised are legitimate though. Stability and security is a current problem, and it not only impacts Iraqi women, but Iraq itself. This is the primary emphasis of the military and the American efforts there. Hopefully, the military will suceed.
There is no doubt that women will have more rights under this new governmental system then they would have had under Saddam. It is all very dependant on whether stability can be achieved. I would hate to think of the consequences for the world if we do not succeed.
They also say that they do not get their ideals from the media. So where do you think they get them?
And Heaven knows that if it comes from there it must be true......NOT
My information comes straight from Baghdad. At one time for a few months it was coming from farther south in Basra(h).
If their heads were planted so far up their rumps they might be able to work together to quit blowing up their own power lines
The got it 99.9% clean but theres still that .1% and they the guys that run the filtration plant will tell you. That .1% can kill you. Has the news/media/whatever told you how the Locals (the Iraqi's) that come to work everyday on the base drink tons of water while they are there because it's bottled water?
How can you make an informed opinion when you are NOT informed? You are told what the media wants you to hear and you absorb it like sponges and claimed that you are informed.
So unless you have done your time over there, civillian or military, you are not making informed opinions. You are making opinions off of what the media tells you.
It appalls me that even when something good is reported, which the media rarely lets happen, the left attacks the positive results with as much venom as they do the President and the bad things.
Julie I agree with you - Great article Army Man. I think it is so sad that people sit in the comforts of their own home safe and sound passing judgement. They don't have a freaking clue what is going on over there except what the media tells them.
Think of how much more could be done if the media encouraged everyone to support the our troops efforts, then Prime Minister Harper and President Bush would not have to beg for more troops , they would already be lined up and really to go !!
Feb. 12, 2007
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division has completed 3,825 construction projects as of Feb. 9, 2007, with a total of 4,035 construction
projects planned.
"Assriya"in Arabic means "modern"and its name exemplifies the way residents treat each other. They worked together to build a Women's Center that officially opened in August and today that facility is producing apparel for children. "To provide port security and harbor defense at the port of Umm Qasr, we [USACE] installed a 9.7 kilometer chain link security fence around the perimeter of Umm QasrNorth Port and South Port, built 19 observation posts, two points of entry, and interior and exterior truck staging areas,"she said.
The $230,000, 400-square-meter facility includes 12 sewing machines and 12 computers to encourage female business opportunities. Local residents have sewn dozens of dresses, sold many in the local market, and are now looking to expand their business enterprise.They are working with Camp Tajito open a store there. They also are contacting Baghdad merchants about the possibility of selling their apparel.
Col. Debra Lewis, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USACE) Gulf Region Central District, recently visited the facility and talked to those operating it. "It's great to see the community's positive outlook and pride in what the Center represents,"she said.
Lewis brought with her 16 boxes of fabric, thread and other sewing items donated by Americans wanting to help. (The Daughters of the American Revolution and Seattle churches are among those supporting the effort.) Six of the local women who are part of the work force expressed their sincere appreciation.
Lewis plans to continue seeking stateside support for this facility, and doing whatever else she can, after seeing the impact this is having on the community, she said.
After his father was killed, Sheik LuqmanRaheemstepped in and is continuing his work at the center. The 414th Civil Affairs Battalion at Camp Tajiwas responsible for getting the project funded through the Commander's Emergency Response Program. USACE oversaw the construction. Capt. William LeFeverwith the 414th said Luqmanhas done a good job getting the Women's Center going and also has plans to open an internet cafe there to generate even more revenue for the facility.
I know there are still alot of issues, so it would good to hear them. Paul, Peter, Mitch, and Luckky above made some good points. Anybody got an answer for them?
The Washington Post, like the NY Times, is vehemently pro-war. In fact, it has taken up the false mantle of "Iran is the enemy" nonsense and is stirring up war hysteria. While Alternet is decidedly liberal in its outlook, to say that it is an insurgent site is tantamount to saying that the pro-war WP is the equivalent of Dr Goebbels' Ministry of Nazi Propaganda. I am not familiar with the Riverbend Blog and cannot comment on that one.
As for DTIC, it is definitely a mouth piece for Bush. And as we all know, you will never find any truth there. If Iraq is such a Paradise as his propaganda machine believes, why are so many people leaving Iraq?
By contrast, Iraqis are having more opportunities in Sweden =
Iraqi Exiles In Sweden
Sweden to press other EU nations on Iraqi influx
13 Feb 2007 18:03:08 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Sarah Edmonds
STOCKHOLM, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Sweden's migration minister said on Tuesday he would this week ask other European Union nations to help shoulder the growing burden of asylum seekers fleeing violence in Iraq for the Nordic nation.
"We feel that it is important that more countries bear a share of this responsibility," Migration Minister Tobias Billstrom told Reuters.
Billstrom said he would raise the issue with colleagues on Thursday at an EU ministers' meeting in Brussels, although the question is not on the formal agenda.
A total of 9,065 Iraqis sought asylum in Sweden in 2006, up from 2,330 in 2005. The number is forecast to more than double to 20,000 this year, he said.
Sweden is receiving more than half of the applications from Iraqis seeking asylum in Europe, Billstrom added.
Jesus Carmona, spokesman for the European Commission's Directorate of Justice and Home Affairs, said there may not be an easy way to divert the flow of Iraqis to other EU nations.
"The only way would be on a voluntary basis other member states could take some responsibility," Carmona said.
"But that's a delicate question because you need the asylum seeker to be happy to move to another country."
Under EU directives, the country that receives an asylum application is responsible for handling it.
Sweden's appeal lies in its relative openness to refugees and to its established 70,000-strong Iraqi community.
"We work constantly on providing people who have a need with shelter but I would like to point out that Sweden can't help all people," Billstrom said, stressing that all asylum seekers face a full screening before their applications are accepted.
He stopped short of urging other EU nations to further open their borders.
"If one is going to have a constructive debate, and Sweden wants to have a constructive debate, then it doesn't do to sit down and point fingers," the minister said.
"This is about turning the thing the other way around. How do we attract more people to the other countries of the EU?"
By 2010, the EU hopes to complete an agreement on a common asylum system with a harmonised set of rights and obligations for all asylum seekers.
very good article... glad to see you know your information... And not just talking random info... good job.. :)
That is certainly understandable. But playing Pollyanna is hardly the proper solution. Therefore, to say that Iraq has progressed, when, in fact, it has terribly retrogressed under the Bush regime serves no real purpose.
One Third Of All Iraqis Live In Poverty
Monday, 19 February 2007, 2:30 pm
Press Release: United Nations
One Third Of All Iraqis Live In Poverty, UN-Backed Study Finds
New York, Feb 18 2007 8:00PM
From a thriving middle income economy in the 1970's and 1980's, one third of today's Iraqi population lives in poverty with more than 5 per cent living in extreme poverty, a new United Nations-backed study says.
Prepared by the Iraqi Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the statistics show that a high percentage of people in Iraq live under various levels of poverty and human deprivation despite the country's huge economic and natural resources.
The policies applied to transform the Iraqi economy to a free market, such as the lifting of subsidies and the dismantling of state instruments, are exacerbating deprivation levels, UNDP said. The study also highlights significant variations in living standards across the country, with the southern region in Iraq showing the highest level of deprivation, followed by the centre and then the north. Rural areas show three times higher levels of deprivation than urban areas, with the Baghdad area being the best in the country.
"This study will be an important addition to the toolkit of policy makers, development planners and practitioners" said UNDP Iraq Director Paolo Lembo.
"We will use the study's findings to better target projects such as those for rapid job creation," said Dr Mehdi Al-Alak, Chairman of the statistics organization.
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Hate to say it, but I see no basis for the claim that Iraq is better off today for Bush's invasion.
all of the MEDIA is a bunch of bad news. It is their job to make things always look bad or they would be out of a media job.
The United States IS doing wonders over there and we need to hear of this more often so that the war haters will understand.
Do you people realize that only 4000 soldiers have died over there but yet today in this country over 4000 people will die from a car accident, suicide, murder, drug overdose, hatred? I think that is a pretty low number compared to how long we have been there and how many are there.
WE HAVE THE BEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD AND WE ARE DOING WONDERS EVEN IF THE HATERS DON'T THINK SO.
HOOAH !!!!