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| Iraq |
| Iraq Highlights from Last Week |
| 2007-06-15 |
| Highlights only. Details at link. 1.Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents Although more time is needed for comprehensive assessments of Fardh al-Qanun, the collective sense is that the security trends in Baghdad are better now than they were in January or February.Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces population security efforts, including the joint security stations and combat outposts in and around Baghdad are largely responsible for this and are having an effect. 2.Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance The Minster of Interior, Anbar provincial government representatives, and Coalition forces celebrated the grand opening of the al-Anbar Iraqi Police Training Center June 4 in Habbaniyah. The joint ceremony highlighted the central government joining forces with local provincial officials to re-establish the capability to train the young men of Anbar to serve their government and people, protect them from extremists, and enforcethe rule of law. 3.Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government Bombers destroyed the two remaining minarets of the Askariya shrine in Samarra early June 13, in a repeat of the 2006 attack that shattered its famous golden dome. Sunni extremists of al-Qaida were quickly blamed. The attack prompted the 30-member bloc of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to suspend its membership in Iraq’s parliament. To ward off a surge of violence, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki quickly imposed an indefinite curfew on vehicle traffic and large gatherings in Baghdad. 4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services The U.S.-funded construction of Nassir & Qahara water project in Kirkuk province has been completed, providing clean potable water and improving the quality of lives of 1,500 area residents. 5.Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy The Anbar Provincial Council approved the allocation of nearly all of its $107 million FY 2007 capital expenditure budget at a meeting held in Ramadi June4. Twenty-eight members of the Council were present to approve the documents, which allocated funds for electrical distribution, irrigation and water purification, among other projects. The budget was signed by Governor Ma’amun Sami Rashid. The Council set aside 10% of the budget as a reserve, which means that the actual appropriations amounted to $96.7 million. 6.Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 51 individuals May 13-19 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code and Coalition Provisional Authority orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary. 7.International Support for Iraq UN chief Ban Ki-moon is considering an expanded UN role and presence in Iraq, adding that a clear direction from the Security Council and the government of Iraq would be essential and better coordination with the UN’s major international partners would also be welcomed. Ban expressed hope that the 15-member Security Council and UN member states would continue to provide “strong political and logistical support”for the UN presence in Iraq. 8.Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents Britain’s next prime minister, Gordon Brown, traveled to Iraq June 11 for a fact-finding visit, assuring Iraq’s leaders of continued British support. This visit marks the first for Brown since being named as Tony Blair’s successor. |
| Posted by:The Ghost of Mullah Dadullah |