Iraq: stuff you don't see on CNN

[bigred]

All I hear about are suicide bombers, but there are other things happening FYI.....


• More than 1,100 reconstruction projects underway in Iraq. Current projects include the construction of 364 schools, 67 public health clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil, 93 water and sewage facilities and 69 electrical facilities (a/o 15 Dec).

• Congress has allocated $18.4 billion for reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure. More than 1,400 reconstruction projects funded by this allocation have begun. Of the allocation, $9.64 billion has been obligated for reconstruction and $2.2 billion dollars disbursed (a/o 29 Dec).

• As of December 29, more than 108,000 local Iraqis have been hired to work on US-funded reconstruction projects. Our desire is to hire as many local subcontractors as possible.

• $78.4 million has been focused on providing reliable electric service, clean water and sewer services. This money supports more than 3700 projects Iraq wide.

• Throughout the year, an additional $90.1 million was provided to support additional Iraqi public services. These projects serve to further strengthen Iraq’s infrastructure and ensure a promising future for the Iraqi people.

• MNF-Iraq has dispersed more than $578 million in Commander’s Emergency Relief Funds (CERP) reaching more than 34,512 projects to build and improve infrastructure, provide for
the welfare of the citizens and support education -- all in an effort to help Iraq take its first steps to recovery after Saddam’s rule.

• Baghdad – 345 CERP projects underway, $35.8 million. There are 552 USG-funded reconstruction projects valued at $1.5 billion currently underway.

• Basra – 23 CERP projects underway, $15.77 million. There are 172 USG-funded reconstruction projects valued at $181 million currently underway.

• Mosul – 118 CERP projects underway, $8.4 million.

• Fallujah – 6 CERP projects underway - $1.5 million. One of the larger projects, a new water treatment plant, will begin this year, and is expected to employ 2000 Iraqis. Seven projects are under construction or will begin shortly with an estimated value of more than $16 million.

• Samarra – 44 CERP projects underway, $2.4 million. Sixty-eight construction and nonconstruction projects have been started or planned with a total value of $15 million. IIG met with the 1ST Infantry Division to plan for the $25 million reconstruction healthcare facilities, schools, hospitals, police stations, and infrastructure repair.

• Sadr City – 27 CERP projects underway amounting to $2.8 million. One hundred and nineteen construction and non-construction projects have begun or are under construction with a value of more than $278 million.


RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS – 2

Essential Services

• WATER
• Baghdad- Expansion of a major water treatment plant serving Baghdad and surrounding areas is approximately 75% complete. This project will produce about 250 million gallons of potable drinking water per day for Baghdad residents.

• Basrah-All 14 water treatment plants are nearly complete and undergoing inspection.

• Diyala/Salah ad Din Provinces- USAID’s new rural water initiative is underway. Since construction began in September 2004 until late November, 11 wells were drilled.

• ELECTRICITY
• Added 1813 Megawatts to the national power grid.

• Installed 8600 kilometers of 400-kV cables to move power between regions.

• More than 1500 400-kV electrical towers installed.

• More than 13 133-kV substations installed.

• HEALTH CARE
• 13 hospitals and 29 public health centers are under renovation as of 7 December

• Up to 80 new public health centers will begin construction by 1 December.

• 59 Primary Health Care Centers are under construction and 110 are being renovated.

• USAID has renovated 19 hospitals and is constructing one hospital.

• The first two series of a total of four of polio vaccinations reached 96% of Iraq’s 4.6
million children under age of 5 in all 18 governorates.

• EDUCATION
• USAID has rehabilitated 2,358 schools in Iraq, and printed and distributed 8.7 million revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12.

• As of mid-October, about 4.3 million children are currently enrolled in primary schools, up from 3.6 million in 2000.

• Telecommunications

• Telephone subscribers now number over 2,152,000 (1,192,000 cell phones) 158% increase from pre-war levels.

• Economic Development

• World Bank agrees to fund $235 million in infrastructure projects.

• ‘Paris Club’ creditors to provide at least 80% debt reduction of $40 billion foreign debt.

• U.S. Government cancels 100% of $4.1 billion Iraqi debt to U.S.

• Commercial airlines are using Baghdad International Airport, averaging 45 flights a day.

• INDEPENDENT MEDIA
• 75 radio stations
• 180 newspapers
• 10 television stations

 

[Bruce]

Thank you for the info.

To my knowledge, the US is the only nation that rebuilds other nations without conquering them [as in Iraq is not US territory]. Isn't that something liberals should feel warm and squishy about?

 

[sorgoth]

Interesting stuff. I didn't realize it was quite to that extent.

It's information like this that makes me more and more in favor of the war...

There were some rather huge difficulties, but, well, the government of the united states really is cleaning up after itself.

Which is nice.

 

[punchdrunk]

Thank you for the info.

To my knowledge, the US is the only nation that rebuilds other nations without conquering them [as in Iraq is not US territory]. Isn't that something liberals should feel warm and squishy about?

Isn't nation-building something that conservatives are supposed to squirm and bitch about?

 

[Silicon]

Source:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/downloads/MNFI-Year-in-Review_2004-Fact-Sheets.pdf



The fact-sheet as provided by the US government and the MNF Iraqi Coalition.

 

[a_unique_person]

Isn't nation-building something that conservatives are supposed to squirm and bitch about?

Too damn right. "We are not in the business of nation building". Mr Flip Flop Bush.

 

[Peskanov]

Mmmm...are any of you expecting general aproval?
It's seems you forget all that was previously destroyed by selective bombing, especially the power net, to despair of all Iraqis.
So the USA bomb it, and then rebuild it, and what do you expect? A hooray?
And all that reconstruction is not going to be free for the Iraqians. Anybody thinking otherwise is naive...

 

[Bruce]

So the USA bomb it, and then rebuild it, and what do you expect? A hooray?

Um, yes.

And all that reconstruction is not going to be free for the Iraqians.[/B][/QUOTE]

Evidence?

 

[a_unique_person]

Um, yes.

And all that reconstruction is not going to be free for the Iraqians.

Evidence? [/B]

Part of the rationale for the war was that many costs associated with it could be paid with by Iraqi oil. Like Saudi Arabia paid for a lot of the Gulf War. Hence the insurgents targetting oil lines and wells. The US is being forced to pay up front for the cost itself. Any potential for payback is a long way off still.

 

[RandFan]

So the USA bomb it, and then rebuild it, and what do you expect? A hooray?

Did you miss the reports comming out of Iraq on the day of the election? I think you have a disconect. Do the Iraqis resent us for a lot of the bad that has happened? Sure. Do the Iraqis want us to leave? Yes. Are the Iraqis capable of figuring out that there election was paid in part with American blood? Yes.

 

[Tmy]

All I hear about are suicide bombers, but there are other things happening FYI.....


• More than 1,100 reconstruction projects.......

Is this list supposed to make me feel good??? If anything it angers me that we are pouring so much money into Iraq, and at the same time we run up huge deficits domestically.

Expand healthcare for americans... that will cost too much. Build a new hospital in iraq! NO PROBLEM!!! How many hospitals did we blow up anyway>???

 

[gnome]

Thank you for the info.

To my knowledge, the US is the only nation that rebuilds other nations without conquering them [as in Iraq is not US territory]. Isn't that something liberals should feel warm and squishy about?

Actually, it does make me feel good to know this. It's one of the things I like about America.

But it doesn't make it all good after the fact, without regard to what led us there in the first place.

 

[Tmy]

As for the snipe at CNN. CNN is just as watered down as the rest. Try watching some foreign news stations then youll see some real footage of whats going on.

 

[Bruce]

Part of the rationale for the war was that many costs associated with it could be paid with by Iraqi oil. Like Saudi Arabia paid for a lot of the Gulf War. Hence the insurgents targetting oil lines and wells. The US is being forced to pay up front for the cost itself. Any potential for payback is a long way off still.

(Sigh) More conspiracy theories.

Originally posted by Tmy If anything it angers me that we are pouring so much money into Iraq, and at the same time we run up huge deficits domestically.

Me, me, me, me, ME!. How do you like that? The government can build a hospital for the surviving citizens of a genocidal maniac tyrant, but my city only afford 13 Starbucks. Where are our priorities? If only Kerry had won.

 

[Tmy]

(Sigh) More conspiracy theories.



Me, me, me, me, ME!. How do you like that? The government can build a hospital for the surviving citizens of a genocidal maniac tyrant, but my city only afford 13 Starbucks. Where are our priorities? If only Kerry had won. [/B]

Not me. MY COUNTRY! Is this somthing new? You dont buy that bullflop that we're in Iraq to save the iraqis do you?

 

[Bruce]

Not me. MY COUNTRY! Is this somthing new? You dont buy that bullflop that we're in Iraq to save the iraqis do you?

Regardless of the motiviation, do you deny that Iraqis have been saved?

 

[Tmy]

Regardless of the motiviation, do you deny that Iraqis have been saved?

What do you mean saved? Id say iraq was a less dangerous place when Saddam was in charge. At least at the moment.

Im more concearned for the safety of Americans than Iraqis.

 

[Bruce]

Not me. MY COUNTRY! Is this somthing new? You dont buy that bullflop that we're in Iraq to save the iraqis do you?

Let me ask you something, Tmy. Let's say you and your family have been hiding in an abandoned building for years because somebody falsely accused you of being an enemy of the state. You have to steal food to keep your chilrden alive. Constant gunfire wakes you up in the night. Your kids are gravely ill.

Then one day, you here word that the evil dictator has been unseated. A foreign soldier shows up at your door with food and medicine, and gives you the directions to a new hospital that is being built.

Are you going to give a flying crap what the motivation was for all this!?! Would it make a damn bit of difference if the soldier were really there because his leaders wanted cheaper oil??

The hatred of liberals amazes me sometimes, even moreso than some of the worse racists I have encountered.

 

[Bruce]

Im more concearned for the safety of Americans than Iraqis.

I appreciate your concern, but things are relatively safe here for the moment.

Edited to add: Besides, it was that kind of thinking that allowed an evil dictator to nearly take over Europe. As I recall from history class, most Americans thought exactly that way until Pearl Harbor was bombed.

 

[Bruce]

Id say iraq was a less dangerous place when Saddam was in charge.

Ugh. Now who's being naive? They didn't find WMD's, but they found several mass graves.