Posted on 07/20/2009 5:08:20 PM PDT by SandRat
AL ASAD AIR BASE — The governor of Anbar province, Qasim al-Fahadawi, and the chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council, Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi, traveled here to meet with leaders of Multi National Force – West, July 16. In a conference room where photographs of the peaceful 2009 Anbar provincial elections hang, MNF-W leaders spoke of a topic that has long been one of the main focuses of the Marines’ mission in Iraq: reconstruction and development.
Col. Robert Lanham, the MNF-W assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to provide a summary of all projects supported through various Coalition force funding resources in Anbar province.
“Today, we’re only discussing projects that deal with what we call ‘brick and mortar construction,’” said Lanham. “This means these projects are actually visible throughout the province.”
Lanham, while giving a presentation to the governor and provincial council chairman, said that since 2006, 1,785 Coalition-funded projects have been completed in the province, and currently MNF-W has 102 ongoing projects.
These visible signs of progress include structures like schools, crime labs, hospitals, greenhouses and judicial centers.
The three initiatives that have received the most funding since 2006 are education, transportation, and water and sanitation projects.
Though the focus of Lanham’s presentation was on construction projects, he mentioned another project that is aimed at boosting the province’s economy.
He said in early August, the U.S. State Department’s Provincial Reconstruction Team for Anbar plans to hold large classes for businessmen in the area. The idea is to teach these businessmen how to compete for contracts. Lanham added that Iraqi businesses vying for contracts will have special priority over foreign companies.
Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, the commanding general of MNF-W, and Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler, the deputy commanding general of MNF-W, sat next to Qasim and Jassim throughout the meeting, answering their questions and swapping advice.
“We aren’t going to do anything here other than work to help the province,” said Tryon, as the meeting concluded.
Qasim was quick to respond and voice his mutual support.
“When you encounter obstacles with your projects, please just let us know,” he said. “If anything is not being solved, please feel free to bring it directly to me.”
The governor thanked the Marines for the opportunity to come aboard the base and discuss such important topics.
“I’m glad we had the chance to come here and have this meeting, because one of the most important things in our combined efforts is making sure our approach in thinking is unified.”
(By Cpl. Meg Murray, Multi-National Force – West)
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