Original Source: Multi-National Force - Iraq
Brig. Gen. James M. Milano, Deputy Commanding General, MND - B, and Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, spokesman for MNF - I, discuss security, reconstruction and economic development.
 Slides
Rear Adm. Driscoll and Brig. Gen. James M. Milano's opening remarks: As-salaam aleikum. Good afternoon. I am joined by Brigadier General Mike Milano Deputy Commander of Multi-National Division – Baghdad who will be giving us an update on the ongoing security and reconstruction operations in Baghdad. Before General Milano makes his remarks, I would like to highlight some economic developments happening in other parts of Iraq. Because of the progress in security and the increased capacity of the Government of Iraq, we are seeing some encouraging indicators of growth and economic recovery in Iraq from the macro to the micro level. While Iraq is blessed with tremendous natural resources, there are many challenges to fully capitalizing on those resources, investing in them efficiently for future growth, and facilitating the opportunities for all Iraqis to be a part of a thriving economy. After nearly thirty years of dictatorship and centralized control, many Iraqis are working hard to rebuild a country where all Iraqis can have an opportunity to thrive and prosper.Last week, the Government of Iraq signed agreements for nearly $6 billion dollars to purchase fifty passenger aircraft from Boeing and Bombardier. With the delivery of some of the airplanes scheduled to start this year, these purchases will help modernize the Iraqi air travel industry. More importantly, it marks a significant step for the Government as it invests in the country’s infrastructure.While the Government is working on the parameters of how to best use new revenues for the benefit of all Iraqis, Iraq’s increased oil revenue that be reinvested in Iraq and used to strengthen the Government’s ability to redevelop the country.The Government has invested in emergency response funds and prioritized quick-impact projects to accelerate redevelopment in areas victimized by criminals and terrorists. In Anbar, Diyala, and Tal Afar, the Government has implemented programs to provide $120 million dollars in housing compensation in the three provinces. Provincial governors are processing claims for people to rebuild homes destroyed by terrorism. Also, the Government has allocated over $350 million in emergency funds to Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul to cover the immediate needs of residents and provide essential services to areas formerly subjected to criminal activity, extortion, and neglect.The Government is investing in long-term projects as well. One example is the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education that it will spend $5 billion dollars for a project that will cover salaries for 20,000 teachers and build 4,000 new schools and sports facilities. As Iraq is historically well-known for its educational programs, the Government is investing in educating the future generation that will be prepared to capitalize on the opportunities of a free Iraq.Beyond these centralized investments, the Government announced at the end of March that it is allocating a $5 billion dollar supplementary budget to add funds to the provincial budgets and to boost specific projects that will create jobs and stimulate local industries.One of these key programs has been the Government’s commitment of a $1.2 billion dollar economic stimulus plan for small and medium business. 60 percent of these funds will be administered as small-business loans through the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and as of this week the Ministry had approved approximately 25,500 loan applications. 40 percent of the $1.2 billion dollar economic stimulus plan is designated to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals for medium-sized business-expansion loans to registered companies. So far, 4,500 applications have been submitted for loans ranging from $12,000-$24,000. These loans will allow for businesses to expand their infrastructure, hire more employees, and support the long-term development of Iraqi industry.The individual effort of Iraqis is helping rebuild the economy. In past briefings we highlighted the resurgence of the fish farming, poultry, date-palm industry, and wheat production. These are all examples of local residents seizing the opportunities of micro-loan programs to get local industries back on their feet. On May 5th in the community of Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, representatives from four local women’s committees met to discuss how to continue developing grass-roots economic programs and coordinate support. With the help of microgrants, many of these women have setup sewing cooperatives, where materials, production, and sales of sewing goods are done collectively. The co-ops not only provide employment for women, but they are also using profits to take care of broken families, widows, and orphans affected by sectarian violence and terrorism. As these women are given the opportunity to help themselves they are also helping others. Economic growth is still uneven and the institutional capacity for the various levels of government to assess economic requirements and efficiently meet needs is a work in progress. However, what we are seeing is that the Government, the Provincial governments, local communities, and individuals are stepping up, and seizing opportunities. Ultimately, Iraqis will only be able to invest, develop business, get jobs, and rebuild their economy if the rule of law is enforced and people cease to profit from crime and violence.It is with that mission in mind that the Coalition is supporting the Iraqi Security Forces to apply the rule of law evenly in Iraq. Despite the progress we’ve seen in Baghdad over the past 15 months, there are areas of the capital where people are still victims of violence.To discuss the ongoing efforts to enforce the rule of law and rebuild people’s lives in Baghdad, I would like to turn over the rest of the time to General Mike Milano. General… GOOD AFTERNOON, AS-SALAAM ALEIKUM. I AM BRIGADIER GENERAL MIKE MILANO, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, AND MULTINATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY WITH REAR ADMIRAL DRISCOLL TO SHARE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR OPERATING AREA. SLIDE ONE PLEASE WITHIN MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION-BAGHDAD 31,500 U.S. SOLDIERS ARE OPERATING IN FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH 48,500 IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS AND NATIONAL POLICE, AS WELL AS WITH 21,500 IRAQI POLICE. TOGETHER OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROTECT THE IRAQI PEOPLE. SINCE WE ARRIVED IN DECEMBER, WE HAVE SEEN A RESILIENT IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND ITS SECURITY FORCES TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS FORWARD IN PROVIDING SECURITY, STABILITY AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE OF BAGHDAD. WHILE MOST OF BAGHDAD AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY CALM AND CONTINUE TO PROGRESS; DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN BAGHDAD HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO HOSTILE ATTACKS BY SPECIAL GROUP CRIMINALS. SLIDE TWO PLEASE AS YOU KNOW, SINCE LATE MARCH SPECIAL GROUP CRIMINALS HAVE INCREASED THEIR ATTACKS AGAINST THE FREELY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ, INNOCENT CIVILIANS, THEIR IRAQI SECURITY FORCES, AND U.S. SOLDIERS, USING ILLEGAL WEAPONS – MORTARS AND ROCKETS, SMALL ARMS FIRE, IEDS AND ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES. SINCE MARCH 23RD THESE CRIMINALS HAVE FIRED OVER 1,000 ROCKETS AND MORTARS THROUGHOUT BAGHDAD CAUSING 269 CASUALTIES – THE MAJORITY OF THESE ATTACKS HAVE COME FROM SADR CITY. THESE CRIMINALS ALSO ATTACK WITH IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, AND MOST OF THEM ARE EXPLOSIVE FORMED PENETRATORS, THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF OUR SOLDIERS. SLIDE THREE PLEASE IN THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF, IRAQI SECURITY FORCES, WITH U.S. SOLDIERS IN SUPPORT, HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWEST SADR CITY TO SAFEGUARD IRAQI CITIZENS FROM ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS AROUND BAGHDAD. WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS AGAINST THE ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS FROM SADR CITY IN THE AREAS CONTROLLED BY THE IRAQI ARMY AND U.S. SOLDIERS IN THE SOUTHERN THIRD PORTION OF SADR CITY. TO DATE, 57 ROCKET RAILS AND MORTARS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND 150 SPECIAL GROUP CRIMINALS KILLED. SLIDE FOUR PLEASE BUT, BECAUSE THE SPECIAL GROUP CRIMINALS CONTINUE TO RESIST THE RULE OF LAW GUARANTEED TO ALL CITIZENS BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT, U.S. SOLDIERS BEGAN EMPLACING BARRIERS TO PROTECT THE SOUTH SADR CITY RESIDENTS. TODAY WE ARE ABOUT 80 PERCENT COMPLETE WITH THIS PART OF THE MISSION IN THE AREAS WE REFER TO AS THAWRA ONE AND THAWRA TWO. IN OTHER PARTS OF BAGHDAD THESE PROVEN MEASURES HAVE ENABLED THE ISF AND GOI RESTORE STABILITY AND SECURITY TO THREATENED COMMUNITIES BY CREATING SAFE MARKETS AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. SLIDE FIVE PLEASE [CMOC BRIEF SLIDE] ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WE ESTABLISHED A COMBINED CIVIL-MILITARY OPERATIONS CENTER, WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOI AND THE BRIGADE’S EMBEDDED PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM, IN THE THAWRA 1 JOINT SECURITY STATION, TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL ACCESS POINT FOR CITIZENS. WE DON’T SEE A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. THE MARKETS ARE OPEN, GOI REPRESENTATIVES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE IDENTIFYING SEWER AND WATER PIPES FOR REPAIR, TRASH IS BEING CLEANED UP BY LOCAL OFFICIALS, ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER REPAIR PARTS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN BY MINISTRY OF ELECTRICITY TO IMPROVE ELECTRICITY, AND A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM IS BEING DEVELOPED AND WELL RECEIVED BY THE LOCAL IRAQIS. THE COMBINED SECURITY EFFORTS OF COALITION FORCES AND THE IRAQI ARMY HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE. ALL THESE MEASURES ARE LINKED WITH THE SECURITY PROVIDED BY THE BAGHDAD OPERATIONS COMMAND. SLIDE SIX PLEASE THERE IS ALSO A CO-LOCATED IRAQI ASSISTANCE CENTER THAT FUNCTIONS TO PROCESS CLAIMS, PROVIDE STATUS ON DETAINED FAMILY MEMBERS, PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ESSENTIAL SERVICE NEEDS AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS IN SADR CITY SUCH AS COORDINATING PROJECTS FOR TRASH AND RUBBLE REMOVAL, STREET REPAIR, LOCAL LIGHTING, MICRO-GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, ETC. WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ AND IRAQI SECURITY FORCES IN THE LEAD, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF BAGHDAD FROM THE SPECIAL GROUP CRIMINALS WHO THREATEN THE LONG TERM STABILITY AND SECURITY THAT EACH IRAQI LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN DESERVES. SHUKRAN, WA AS-SALAM ALAYKUM AND NOW MAY WE ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS? (Full transcript and video coming soon) |
