Iraq in Focus
Petraeus & Crocker: Iraq’s Security, Governing, Spending Have Improved
In Testimony To Congress, Commanding General And US Ambassador In Iraq Cite Recent Military, Political, And Economic Developments
April 8, 2008
General Petraeus reports progress in Iraq’s security. (General David H. Petraeus, Armed Services Committee, US Senate, Hearing, 4/8/08) According to General Petraeus:
- For nearly six months, security incidents have been at a level not seen since early-to-mid 2005.
- The level of incidents did spike in recent weeks, but it has begun to turn down again.
- Civilian deaths have decreased over the past year to a level not seen since February 2006.
- Deaths due to ethno-sectarian violence have fallen since September 2007.
- High profile attacks are down significantly compared to this time last year.
- Thanks to increased help from local citizens, Coalition Forces have already found more weapons caches in 2008 than in all of 2006.
Iraqi soldiers, police, and volunteers are securing their nation in increasing numbers. (General David H. Petraeus, Armed Services Committee, US Senate, Hearing, 4/8/08) According to General Petraeus:
- More than 540,000 individuals serve in Iraq’s Security Forces, with more than 133,000 soldiers and police added over the past 16 months.
- There are now more than 91,000 Sons of Iraq—Shia as well as Sunni—under contract to help Coalition and Iraqi Forces protect neighborhoods and secure infrastructure.
- More than 21,000 Sons of Iraq have already been accepted into Police, Army, or government jobs.
- Iraqis are increasingly in the fight, recently incurring losses three times the level of Coalition losses.
Iraq's ministries are steadily improving their ability to execute budgets, purchase equipment, and plan ahead. (General David H. Petraeus, Armed Services Committee, US Senate, Hearing, 4/8/08)
- Iraq's security ministries are now spending more on their forces than the US is.
- Gen. Petraeus: “We anticipate that Iraq will spend over $8 billion on security this year and $11 billion next year.”
- “This projection enabled us recently to reduce significantly our Iraqi security forces fund request for fiscal year 2009 from $5.1 billion to $2.8 billion.”
- The Iraqi government has purchased over $2 billion of American equipment and services.
- Iraq has committed $163 million to gradually assume Sons of Iraq contracts, $510 million for small business loans, and $196 million for a Joint Training, Education, and Reintegration Program.
In the past half-year, Iraq's parliament has formulated, debated vigorously, and passed legislation dealing with vital issues of reconciliation and nation building. (Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Armed Services Committee, US Senate, Hearing, 4/8/08) Since September 2007, Iraqis have passed:
- A pension law
- The Accountability and Justice Act for de-Ba’athification reform
- A far-reaching amnesty law
- A provincial powers law that helps define the federal-provincial relationship and calls for provincial elections by October 1, 2008
- Changes to the design of the Iraqi flag
- A 2008 budget that includes record amounts for capital expenditures
Iraqis have been building on economic gains over the past months. (Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Armed Services Committee, US Senate, Hearing, 4/8/08)
- Iraq's 2008 budget allocated $13 billion for reconstruction, while a $5 billion supplemental this summer will further invest export revenues in infrastructure and services.
- Amb. Crocker: “IMF projects that Iraq's GDP will grow 7 percent in real terms this year, and inflation has been tamed. The dinar remains strong, and the central bank has begun to bring down interest rates.”
- Iraq recently announced its decision to purchase 40 commercial aircraft from the United States at an estimated cost of $5 billion.