American Soldiers Behind the Scene
For the last year and a half, America has been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is much controversy over our involvement there. Whether being there is right or wrong, our American troops are helping the Iraqi people to experience little things, and some not so little things, that we take for granted in our own country every day. Many good things are happening in Iraq that we don't often hear about in the news, because our country has cared enough to reach out to Iraq. Below is a short list of some of the wonderful things that are happening for the Iraqi people since the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Civic Pride in Iraq's Capital
The CPA, responding to a Baghdad City Council request, is allocating $10 million to brighten the city's public parks, squares and playgrounds. The funding will provide lighting in the capital's outdoor public places, new murals, sculptures, and landscaping. Revitalization of Baghdad's public areas shows civic pride and is another example of the Iraqis' faith in their future.
The Postal System
3,000 postal workers – nearly the entire former workforce -- have returned to work, 85 percent of the post offices in Iraq have reopened, and by Thursday, January 15, 5 million new stamps without pictures of former dictator Saddam Hussein, will be distributed across Iraq. The new postal service is an important example of Iraq's reintegration into the international community.
Education in Iraq
Renewing Iraq's educational system is vital because Iraqi youth will determine their country's future. All universities are open, 5.1 million Iraqi primary school students are back in the classroom, and more than 51 million new textbooks -- without propaganda -- are being distributed. Plus, Iraqi teachers now earn up to 25 times their salaries before liberation.
Cell Phone Service Comes to Iraq
Improvements in telephone service are helping Iraq reintegrate into the international community and paving the way for the new economy. Today, mobile telephones are available in Iraq for the first time, and by April 2004, there could be more than half-million Iraqi cell phone subscribers. New technology is also making it possible for Iraq to establish its first emergency call network.
Iraq's New Currency
Iraq's new currency is an important indicator of economic revitalization. During the Iraqi currency exchange, which began on October 15, 2003, and ended on January 15, the value of the new dinar has risen by 25 percent. To date almost 4.5 trillion new Iraqi dinars or $3 billion are estimated to be in circulation. Transporting the money to Iraq required twenty-eight 747 aircraft loads of about 100 tons each. Iraq's historical monuments, landscapes, and accomplishments in the sciences are featured on the new notes, as opposed effigies of the Ba'ath Party on the old currency.
Protecting Iraq's Environment
Protecting the environment and improving water quality and sanitation are crucial to bettering health conditions and hastening development in Iraq. Work is underway on six large sewage treatment plants, so that waste is no longer pumped directly into the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Projects underway will improve access to clean water for 14.5 million Iraqis.
Iraqi Athletes on the Road to the Athens Olympics
The election this week of a new Iraqi National Olympic Committee is welcome news for Iraqi athletes and represents another important step in Iraq rejoining the international community. For years, Uday Hussein controlled the Iraq's Olympic committee, tortured and abused athletes, and stifled development of competitive sports in Iraq. Now, as the new Olympic Committee takes form, Iraqis are training to qualify for and participate in seven sports at this year's Olympic games in Athens, including weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, tae kwan do, swimming, track and field, and soccer.
Most Iraqis Have Access to TV
A recent Quality of Life Survey determined that most Iraqis have access to print and broadcast media, including newspapers, radio, TV and the Internet. This access to information will support the development of democracy in Iraq. Television is the most accessible to Iraqis, with access for 67.3 percent of the population in the non-Kurdish North and 79.6 percent in South Central Iraq. The 100 question survey was administered by the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic Studies with international partners, and the results are based on 7,410 anonymous responses from 18 cities. Today, freedom of information is particularly important to Iraqis, because of the total media monopoly by Saddam Hussein's regime.
33,000 Iraqi Teachers Trained
One of the most important ways Iraq is investing in the future is by restoring its education system. This weekend, 11,000 secondary school teachers graduated from a teacher training program designed to help them learn about modern classroom methods. This was the last group of 33,000 secondary school teachers in all 18 of Iraq's governorates to participate in one-week training programs under Iraqi master trainers. Under Saddam Hussein, classrooms were an opportunity to indoctrinate students with pro-Ba'athist propaganda, and teacher training programs like these will help new generations learn in depoliticized environments.
Iraq's Health Care System
After years of neglect under Saddam Hussein, Iraq is modernizing health services. The Ministry of Health's 2004 budget is nearly $1 billion, which is nearly 6,000 percent more than what Saddam spent on health care. All 240 hospitals and more than 1,200 primary health clinics are treating patients. Teams of biomedical experts are visiting hospitals to help repair and upgrade medical equipment. As a result of these investments, more and more Iraqis are gaining access to improved health care services.
Iraqi Youth Play in Organized Soccer Leagues
More than 3,000 boys and young men, aged 13 to 23, helped inaugurate a local soccer league in southern Iraq recently. They will play among 180 teams to qualify for a championship tournament later this spring. The league was made possible through the efforts of local Iraqis, the Polish Governance Support Team, and the Coalition Provisional Authority. Other leagues are being organized in cities throughout Iraq, including Diwaniyah, Najaf, Karbala, and Al Kut. A chance at organized soccer has exhilarated these young players and signifies a return to normal life for Iraqi families.
Religious Freedom in Iraq
Several million people are undertaking the pilgrimage to Karbala in southern Iraq to observe the Shiite holy day of Ashura. This is the first time in more than three decades that Iraqis will be able to mark Ashura without the shadow of the Baathist regime hanging over the ceremonies. In past years, Saddam Hussein's army and security forces would surround Karbala and Najaf and imprison many Iraqis who attempted to participate in the Ashura observances. Since liberation, Iraqis of all faiths -- including Shiites, Sunnis, Christians, Yazidis, Mandaeans, and Jews -- are enjoying the freedom to openly practice their religious beliefs.
Iraqis to Participate in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Thousands of children throughout Iraq will soon be able to participate in an Iraqi Boy Scout and Girl Scout program. The scouting initiative was launched recently with the backing of the World Scouting Organization, the Arab Scout Organization, and some 100 former scouters serving in Iraq. The program will allow boys and girls of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds to join together in activities that promote good citizenship, community service, honor, and self-confidence. Volunteer scouting was first introduced to Iraq in 1921 but was terminated during the Saddam Hussein era. The reestablishment of scouting signals a brighter future for Iraq's youth and is another step forward in reconnecting Iraq with the world community.
Health Care for Iraq's Children
Since the liberation of Iraq, 70 percent of Iraq's 4.3 million children under the age of five have been vaccinated against diseases including polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, and tuberculosis. The Ministry of Health is also conducting monthly vaccine days to reach additional children. Access to better health care has helped prevent disease outbreaks and is improving the well-being of children across Iraq.
Free Press in Iraq
Free press is flourishing in Iraq and providing the Iraqi people with access to a variety of news sources. More than 646 journalists have credentials for the new international press center in Baghdad. Many of the journalists write for more than 200 Iraqi newspapers now in circulation across the country. This burgeoning free press is encouraging debate and democracy in Iraq.
Medicines for the Iraqi People
Today, most Iraqis have medications to treat a variety of diseases. Before liberation, pharmaceutical distribution was based largely on political loyalties and bribery. Teams of pharmaceutical experts are visiting hospitals across Iraq to determine needs and timely delivery mechanisms. In the past 10 months, the Ministry of Health has delivered more than 25,000 tons of pharmaceuticals and supplies to healthcare facilities. Access to modern medicines is another way that the lives of average Iraqis are improving.
Recovering Iraqi Assets
The international community is recovering assets stolen by Saddam Hussein's regime and transferring these to the Development Fund for Iraq. Nearly $6 billion in assets have been frozen worldwide, and more than $2.5 billion have been transferred from the United States and our international partners for the benefit of the Iraqi people. The U.S. Treasury Department last week designated eight front companies and five individuals of the former Iraqi regime, clearing the way for UN member states to identify, freeze and transfer these stolen assets to the DFI. These recovered assets will be used to help build a free, democratic, and prosperous Iraq.
Iraqis Prepare for Athens Olympics
Iraqi athletes are preparing to compete in the upcoming Olympics in Athens. For nearly 20 years, Saddam Hussein's son Uday controlled Iraq's Olympic teams. Iraqi athletes feared Uday because they knew if they lost an event - and sometimes just didn't perform their best - they might be tortured. Now, Iraqi athletes compete without fear in preparation for Olympic trials in boxing, soccer, and other sports. Two Iraqis have already qualified to represent their country in track and field and tae kwon do. To acknowledge these new freedoms, President Bush met with officials from the National Olympic Committee of Iraq.
Iraqis on the Internet
Iraqis are eager to connect with the world. Under Saddam Hussein's regime, few were allowed access to government-monitored Internet service. Today, Internet cafes are springing up across Baghdad. USA Today reports that there are about 30 Iraqi Web blogs in Baghdad, and one of these gets about 2,500 hits and 50 e-mails a day. Another site was launched for an Iraqi in Baghdad to communicate publicly with a friend in Amman, Jordan. Communications through the Internet is an important example of how Iraqis are embracing the freedom of expression and reaching out to the world.
National Commission for Remembrance
A new commission will soon develop ways to commemorate those who suffered from the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein's regime. The Iraqi National Commission for Remembrance will raise private funds to establish memorials and a national museum in Baghdad. The museum will pay homage to the of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis who were victimized by Saddam's dictatorship. Mindful of this tragic history, Iraqis are committed to building a government that respects the human rights of all its people.
Iraqi Teachers Returning to Work
Iraqi teachers who were persecuted for their political beliefs during Saddam's regime are finally returning to their chosen professions. Approximately 15,000 teachers were fired by Saddam's regime for political reasons, including relatives of Iraqis who were executed, exiled, or imprisoned. To date, 4,700 have been re-hired by the Ministry of Education and 1,100 more will be rehired in the next few days. In addition, the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and the Supreme National De-Ba'athification Commission, are working to ensure that the de-Ba'athification appeals process is accelerated and implemented fairly and efficiently. Securing the best possible teachers for Iraq's youth is vital to the future of freedom and prosperity in the new Iraq.
Iraq Moves toward Regulating Its Own Electronic Media
Iraq's first independent regulatory body is a step closer to having a full staff. The National Communications and Media Commission of Iraq -- which will regulate the country's burgeoning electronic media such as radio, broadcast and Internet services -- now has a CEO and three commissioners in place. Part of the commission's charge will be to work with Iraqi journalists' associations to advance professional standards and ethics. This is yet another example of the new Iraq taking control of its future.
Iraq Soccer Team's Upset Victory Earns Trip to Olympics
In a stunning upset victory, the Iraq national football team defeated Saudi Arabia and earned a trip to the 2004 Olympic Summer games in Athens. The 3 to 1 victory marks the first time in Iraq's history that its football team will compete in the Olympics. "This means Iraq is on the right path," said a tearful Hawar Mulla Mohammed moments after the game. He scored the team's go-ahead -- and eventually winning -- goal of the game. "Our entire country deserves this incredible win," he said. This achievement means that Iraq will send about 30 athletes to the Summer games for a seven-fold increase from just four years ago.
Miami Reserve Unit Brightens Smiles of Iraqi Children
A reserve unit from Miami is brightening the smiles of some Iraqi kindergarteners by providing toothpaste and toothbrushes and teaching them how to use them. Sgt. Jose Villafana of the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion noticed some children in Baghdad did not have access to even the most basic oral care, so he arranged for supplies to be sent from the United States. Now the school's teachers will help students brush their teeth each day after snack time. This is another example of how the coalition is working to improve the daily lives of Iraqis.
Health Care Improvements Slated for Iraqis
The British military is training 24 Iraqi nurses in general nursing and critical care. There are also specialized courses in surgery and orthopedics. Instruction will be led by local Iraqi doctors, an Iraqi chief nurse and senior nurse, and a liaison officer from the British Military. This effort to improve patient care is another example of improvements in the daily lives of the Iraqi people.
New Internet Center Opens at Iraqi University
Salahaddin University in the city of Arbil recently opened its first Internet center and classroom. The new center provides students with 24 computers, a server, Internet connection and other supplies and materials. Some students have had Web access at Internet cafes in town, but no Internet center existed on the university's campus. Computer science education and Internet access provide new ways for Iraqi students to reconnect with the rest of the world after years of war, dictatorship, and isolation.
Iraqis Take First Step toward Free Elections
Iraq has established a commission to move the country to free elections by the end of 2005. The commission is composed of seven voting members, one non-voting member to serve as the chief electoral officer, and a UN electoral commissioner. UN experts evaluated more than 1,800 applicants and - with the Iraqi Governing Council - made the final selection. The commission will be nonpartisan and independent. Its members have no known political affiliations, and all were chosen for their experience and technical qualifications. With this first step, Iraqis are quickly establishing a credible electoral process.
Iraqis Show Confidence in Country's Future
Iraqis are increasingly optimistic as they move toward sovereignty on June 30. According to surveys conducted in mid-May, 63 percent of Iraqis believe that the interim government will improve life in Iraq. Confidence also extends to security forces: 87 percent say they are confident in the army and police force's ability to maintain security, and 51 percent say they are more interested in enlisting in the security forces than they were three months ago. These poll numbers underscore Iraqis' faith in the new Iraq and in the institutions that will lead the way to a free and democratic nation.
Iraq Is a Sovereign Country
At 10:26 am in Baghdad on June 28, 2004, Iraq again became a sovereign country. Prime Minister Allawi received the Transfer of Sovereignty document from the highest ranking legal authority in Iraq, Judge Medhat al Mahmood. Judge Mahmood received the document from Ambassador L. Paul Bremer in a small ceremony in Baghdad. Iraq is now a sovereign nation working toward a democratic and prosperous future.
Iraqis are Confident in Their New Leaders
Iraqis are confident in the leaders of their new sovereign government. In a poll conducted in six cities between June 9th and June 19th, 73 percent stated they have confidence in Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, and 84 percent have confidence in President Shaykh Ghazi al-Yawir. The poll demonstrates hope for Iraq's democratic and prosperous future.
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