Iraq Report, July 25/05

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• Saddam Hussein was brought before an Iraqi tribunal official to set a hearing date for his first trial. Saddam will face charges of mass murder for the 1982 massacre of 143 inhabitants of Dujail, a small Shia village north of Baghdad. As we wait for the date of an actual trial, the people of Iraq are being reminded of the horrors that defined Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

• Kris Alexander provides an at-a-glance analysis of the current situation in Iraq called the Road Map to Victory. What are your thoughts - too much progress shown, or not enough?

• Iraqi security forces have captured the suspected mastermind behind last week's bombings south of Baghdad, which killed more than 100 and wounded scores. Meanwhile, terroist attacks continue in Baghdad.

Other Topics Today Include: PA lt. governor crashes funeral, hanging out with IP SWAT, Iraqi forces pictorial, Devil's Foyer, World bank loan, Reconstruction highlights, Constitution almost finished, Sunnis getting involved, Saddam nephews' assets frozen, Three moments of silence in Baghdad, Road Map to Victory, Roggio on River War

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• BlackFive reports how Pennsylvania Lt. Governor appeared uninvited at the funeral of Marine SSG Joseph Goodrich, handed out her business card, and informed the grieving family and friends that "their government was against the war."

• Ma Deuce Gunner hangs out in the Iraqi Police SWAT arms room - they can't seem to get rid of him now. Also, Security Watchtower provides a pictorial overview of the Iraqi Security Forces.

• Michael Yon brings us news from Mosul, where Deuce Four has removed a huge force multiplier from the terrorists operating in that area. Read Devil's Foyer.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• The World Bank plans to loan Iraq money for the first time since 1973.

• Here are some of this week's reconstruction highlights: In 2002, 1,043 malaria cases were reported, dropping to 307 during 2003 and only 86 cases in 2004. Work at Karbala’s Water Treatment Plant is 78% complete and is expected to be complete in September 2005. Contractors are rehabilitating a sewage trunkline in a poor, southeastern Baghdad neighborhood - the work will be completed by December 2005. The Community Action Program (CAP) completed two projects in the Marshlands areas near Basrah. Both projects targeted basic sources of livelihood in the area – fish and wheat production. CAP helped an Arbil Governorate community build four new classrooms and a soccer field at its primary school. The Higher Education and Development (HEAD) program in partnership with the University of Hawaii established a forage facility to assist agriculture students study animal nutrition at a university in Iraq. The Basic Education program is rebuilding water and sanitation facilities in 800 schools. An NGO serving the blind in southern Iraq conducted a two month train-the-trainer course for Braille instruction through an Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI) grant that provided computers, electrical equipment, stipends and transportation. TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ FROM 2003-July 2005 = $5,102,498,335

IRAQI POLITICS

• Iraq's constitutional commission has announced that the draft of the new Iraqi Constitution will be ready in two weeks. This body has worked under unimaginable circumstances - including several mortar attacks and the assassination of two of the Sunni delegates. The assassinations deconstruct to a large degree the argument that control of Iraq is strictly a Sunni vs. Shia struggle.

• Iraqi Sunnis are reportedly signaling a willingness to participate in the new Iraqi government.

• Peter W. Galbraith has been predicting civil war and advocating american withdrawal for a while, In this article, he explains some of the tensions and issues between Iraq's ethnic communities, and acknowledges hat the Sunni insurgency cannot win - but also notes that Iraq may need a different political structure to pull through. (Hat tip: JC)

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• The United States Treasury, under Executive Order 13315, has frozen the assets of Yasir Al-Tikriti, Omar Al-Tikriti, Ayman Al-Tikriti, Ibrahim Al-Tikriti, Bashar Al-Tikriti and Sa’d Al-Tikriti - the sons of Saddam Hussein’s half brother and former adviser Sabawi Al-Tikriti - for providing support to anti-Iraq operations.

ETCETERA

• Power Line has information about 3 moments in central Baghdad, when tens of thousands of Iraqis stood silent in over 130 Fahrenheit heat to commemorate victims of terror. Son of Two Rivers provides a condemnation of those who claim to be "brothers" to the Iraqi, but say nothing of this important event.

• Proud, New Papa Bill Roggio has information about the River War near the Syrian border. Bill notes the use of air strikes, not common at this stage in the war, during coalition operations to free this strategic town of anti-Iraq forces.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

Thanks for reading! If you found something here you want to blog about yourself (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". If you think we missed something important, use the Comments section to let us know. And if you have a tip for a future Iraq Report, email us at MondayIraqReport(at)windsofchange.net.