SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FROM OIF: THE FIRST YEAR

CENTCOM ^ | March 18, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

March 18, 2004
Release Number: 04-03-41


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FROM OIF: THE FIRST YEAR

TAMPA, Fla. – Operation Iraqi Freedom Coalition Forces have successfully liberated 25 million Iraqis from the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.

These highlights provide information regarding the accomplishments of the Coalition throughout the past year.

The OIF Coalition is comprised of 34 countries, including 11 NATO countries, and they have provided over 22,000 troops to support the efforts in Iraq. There are two multi-national divisions in Iraq: one led by the United Kingdom in central-south Iraq, and one led by Poland in south Iraq.

The international community has pledged at least $32 billion to improve schools, health care, roads, water and electricity supplies, agriculture and other essential services.

The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the European Union, and 38 countries have pledged to extend loans and grants to Iraq. Other nations are contributing humanitarian assistance, extending export credits and reducing Iraqi debt.

The UN Security Council on Oct. 16, 2003, unanimously approved Resolution 1511 that calls on member states to support the work of the multinational force in Iraq.

Security:

America's armed forces are taking the offensive against remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and foreign terrorists, leading more than 1,600 patrols a day and conducting an average of 180 raids a week.

45 of the 55 most wanted Hussein regime members have been captured or killed, including the brutal dictator himself, whose capture sent a powerful message to the Iraqi people that the tyranny of the past will never return. The capture of Saddam Hussein provided a boost to intelligence throughout western Iraq.

The quality of intelligence is cascading as a result of the Saddam capture: the intelligence is of higher quality and allows a higher level of captures. Saddam's capture is allowing the Coalition to apprehend more mid-level financiers and organizers.

More than 230,000 Iraqis now provide security for their fellow citizens, and Iraqi security forces now account for the majority of all forces in Iraq. These forces include Iraqi Police, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, Iraqi Border Police, Iraqi Facility Protection Service and the New Iraqi Army.

Law/Governance:

Since July, the 25-person Iraqi Governing Council has had the authority to: name interim Ministers; exercise government oversight; prepare policy initiatives on Iraq’s national security, including reform of the armed forces, police and courts; lead development of a constitution; and approve Iraq's national budget. 24 Iraqi Cabinet Members also contribute to the business of the government.

First time in 13 years, an ambassador to the US was appointed to restore diplomatic relations.

90% of Iraq’s districts have municipal/government councils with more than 19 million Iraqis engaging in local political discourse

Ministry of Justice has established a Council of Judges to oversee the judiciary and prosecutors. Also, defendants are now provided lawyers.

Public Health:

240 hospitals and most of Iraq’s 1200 clinics have reopened. 70 private hospitals are operating

800 tons of high protein biscuits have been delivered to 15 Governorates for malnourished children and pregnant/nursing mothers.

1.09 million humanitarian daily rations have been distributed to date.

22 million children and 700,000 women have been inoculated against diseases since the war; 90% of all Iraqi children now receive routine vaccinations

Pharmaceuticals distribution improved from 0 to 12,000 tons today,
more than $210 million approved for the Iraqi Ministry of Heath for pharmaceutical supplies and equipment, basic health care services, medical equipment and power generators for hospitals

Schools:

Nearly all schools are open and 5.1 million students are attending class

25 Fulbright Scholarships awarded for the first time in 14 years; Fulbright Office added 2 new programs for Iraqis

Over 13,500 school buildings in Iraq; $4.4 million spent to complete 2,299 school renovations; UNICEF and other NGOs are rehabilitating 105 schools; 183K desks, 57K chairs, 61K chalkboards and 25K metal cabinets have been distributed

33,000 teachers and 3,000 supervisors trained in instructional practices and classroom management strategies

Commerce and Trade:

Iraqis use a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years; 4.6 trillion new Iraqi dinars in circulation

Iraq Stock Exchange will open in April; Iraq Central Bank is fully independent and has been opened since Sept 03;

83% of all pre-war bank branches are open

Umm Qasr Port turned over to Iraqi control in Jan 04

393,950 jobs have been generated

Estimated crude oil export revenues exceed $3.3 billion for Iraqi reconstruction.

Telephone service continues to expand with 95% of service outside Baghdad.

More than 170 newspaper are published in Iraq

Power:

4400 megawatts per day is the current seven-day average, this is up from 300 megawatts per day in 2003.

USAID will spend more than $250 million infrastructure repair funds on power rehabilitation and an additional $75 million allocated to power reconstruction.

Water:

Coalition programs have cleared over 16,500 km of irrigation canals, helping over 10,000 farms

Water storage in most Iraqi reservoirs is approaching historic averages

Rehabilitated water treatment plants will treat nearly 800 million liters/day, benefiting 3.5 million people

90% of Iraqis will have potable water by Apr 05

Quality of Life:

Religious rites are being re-established for all sects.

New Ministry of Housing and Construction has started 1,008 new homes and is working with the UN to start 7 housing projects with 3,528 units

Military Supplies Used:

Item Quantity Dollar Value
MREs 42.1 mil meals $285.0 mil
Bottled water 120 mil bottles $31.0 mil
Cots 342,000 $18.2 mil
Lumber 17.25 mil board-feet $6.9 mil
Plywood 750,000 sheets $10.9 mil
Combat Boots 673,000 pair $48.7 mil
Body Armor 191,000 vests $105.0 mil
Body Armor 361,000 plates $180.5 mil

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Related:

8 Iraq: One Year After The Beginning of The War ~ A special Presentation ~ CPA  | 3/17/04
8 GOTTA SEE THIS! A Compiled Look at the War on Terrorism: threads posted by Diogenesis 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

USNR Educates the Peaceniks:

March 18, 2003

Members of International A.N.S.W.E.R.;

Signatories of Not In My Name; and

Citizens of the United States of America:

With the impending military action in Iraq I felt compelled to write this letter. As a member of the United States military I regret to inform you that, regardless of your race, sex, color, creed, age, national origin, political ideology, or any other delimiter, the actions that will take place against Iraq will be fully, undeniably, and irrevocably IN YOUR NAME. Despite of your signature on a piece of paper, this statement remains true.

In my fifteen years of service in the U.S. Navy (8.5 years active duty, balance reserve) I have raised my right hand six time to swear "that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States". That wonderful document which covers us, protects us, enables our way of life. The constitution provides our rights, sets our standards of law, and importantly in this context gives the President of the United States the power to set the foreign policy.

The constitution also provides the method of electing the President, and designates him as Commander in Chief of the military. I have also sworn "that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States", I do not have to like the president, I do not have to agree with his policy. I have served under four men holding that office, and made no distinction between them. When the President sets the military in action he does so by the power given him by the constitution and the people of the U.S. As a service member the President through the constitution ultimately directs my actions, the resulting action is therefore proscribed by the constitution. If you consider yourself a citizen of this country willfully covered by the Constitution, all military action is therefore In Your Name.

I know you might disagree with that statement, you may not like that statement, but the members of the armed forces will proudly serve in the name of all Americans. We will continue to provide you with security, with your freedoms, and your rights even if you do not like how, when or why we do.

Respectfully,

Stanley J. Wolczyk III

Petty Officer First Class U.S.N.R.

                                

click image to enlarge

[SAMWolf]

Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

Go Navy ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

A year's worth of highlights ~ enemies captured, cities rebuilt and built anew, Saddam - a major evildoer and terrorist sponsor - removed for good, thousands of children saved ~ good works of our awesome troops in Iraq.

[Mr. Silverback]

Dear Cowgirl,

I'm saying this in public, because that's where kudos should be given, and this is for sure the thread to do it in.

You have done an outstanding job with this ping list, and there's no better way to stick it to the "U.S. Wankers" than to trumpet the great things our troops are doing. So it is with great pain that I ask you to remove me from this list for now. It's just too hard to keep track of all the threads, so I'm dropping off several ping lists.

God bless you for doing this stuff,
Mr. S.

[Fiddlstix]

[Spruce]

[bogdanPolska12]

Thank you for your ping. God bless you. USA troops and USA itself strong bump.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Silverback.

Done.

You can find the good news daily at my homepage, updated daily, throughout the day - no ping list required...except some days, like today when I'm getting a proxy error - unable to edit. One year anniversary. Perhaps our new military Freepers will take up the news, and carry it much farther.

[getgoing]

Petty Officer Wolczyk III, THANK YOU!

RC, great review of the year (good time to repost your list!).

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

((Hugs)) to you, C.

Thank you for your support of our troops, heads up on the articles, concern for our wounded new Veterans.

A YEAR IN IRAQ — On March 19, 2003, the United States and its coalition partners launched the first air strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In a matter of weeks, Saddam's decades-old regime had been removed, liberating 25 million Iraqis from one of the world's most brutal tyrannies. Click here to view some of the thousands of images military photographers captured of the U.S.-led mission to free Iraq.  

[getgoing]

"liberating 25 million Iraqis from one of the world's most brutal tyrannies."

If that doesn't give you chill bumps you aren't human. It's tough to see friends redeploy, but we've seen the light in their eyes & indescribable pride when they come home. THEY KNOW.

Thank you smiles headed your way, RC.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Liberation of Iraq

 

• On March 19, 2003, the United States and its Coalition partners launched the first air strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On the evening of April 9, 2003, Iraqis danced and waved their country's flag in central Baghdad as U.S. Marines toppled a huge statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. In a matter of weeks, Hussein's decades-old regime had been removed, liberating 25 million Iraqis from one of the world's most brutal tyrannies.

8The New IRAQ: A Year of Progress ~ Best tribute from the DoD. Good job, troops!