Iraq Report, 31 Oct/05

Welcome, and Happy Halloween! 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

• Terrorists killed a brother of one of Iraq's vice presidents on Saturday, gunned down en route to the prime minister's office. Other terrorists attacked the deputy trade minister's car, wounding him.

• The Pentagon estimates that some 26,000 Iraqis have died as a result of terrorist attacks across Iraq since January 2004. Although 80% of attacks are made against Coalition forces, Iraqis have suffered 80% of the casualties, a grim reminder of who is truly paying the price of the war, media hype over American deaths notwithstanding.

Other Topics Today Include: new Yon dispatch; changes in Iraq; possible terrorist kill; funding the terrorists; reconstruction highlights; meeting Iraq's food needs; Italy and the war; Pravda and Saddam.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Mike Yon has a new dispatch up - he is headed for al-Anbar province to embed with the USMC. Check out Purple Fingers.

• Major Bill Cowling, a US Army reservist discusses how things are changing in Iraq.

• It is likely, according to US DOD reports that foreign fighter facilitator Abu Dua was killed in a recent airstrike in Ushsh. Dua was connected to the intimidation, torture and murder of local civilians in the Qaim area.

• It is thought that Abu Massab al-Zarqawi is now funding the al-Qaeda leadership because his ability to access money in Iraq is so expansive. It is also felt that Zarqawi has become the "top general" in al_Qaeda's attempt to create an Islamic utopia in the Middle East. In other circles, this represents the utter destruction of al-Qaeda outside of Iraq - making Iraq al-Qaeda's last stand.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• An Iraqi firm in Ninewa recently completed a project, which brought a 55 megawatt electrical pplant online for the first time in several years. The plant now provides electrical service to approximately 49,720 consumers and extends the hours of available electricity to the national grid.

• Iraqi consumers have generated a large demand for wheat and rice and US commodities firms are meeting that demand to the tune of $277 million in sales over a 180 period.

• Another refinery has been added to Iraqi infrastructure in al-Dhiqar province - it will have the capacity to refine 10,000 barrels of crude per day.

• Take a look at this week's reconstruction highlights: Over 1,600 Iraqi business leaders have benefited from training programs offered by USAID’s Izdihar project since the beginning of 2005. Nearly 30 Iraqi businesspeople, lawyers, and government officials receive training in intellectual property rights. Grant approval introduces modern beekeeping technology to 51 people in the Ninawa governorate. USAID works with the State Board for Agricultural Lands to create and implement an updated and secure digital system of land registration. USAID partners complete construction of a new school in Qadisiyah governorate. The area, previously underserved by dilapidated buildings, has suffered from poor primary school enrollment. CAP is rehabilitating a 10km road in the Wassit governorate in coordination with a local municipality. Northern Iraqi children in some of the country’s most under-equipped schools receive basic school supplies through a series of ITI grants. Students from 15 primary, intermediate, and secondary schools were given notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, and other items. A northern Iraqi NGO works to overcome ethnic tensions through public education campaigns that promote gender equality and women’s rights.

IRAQI POLITICS

• The General Conference for the People of Iraq, the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Iraqi National Dialogue - Sunni political parties that are forming an alliance in the face of upcoming elections - have been urging Sunnis to take part in the December 15 election. The Iraqi Shiite parties are also putting forth a joint list of candidates.

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is up at Dean's World.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• The political tea leaves in Italy aren't looking good for the Coalition, as Prime Minister Berlusconi is now telling voters he tried to argue President Bush out of the Iraq invasion.

ETCETERA

• Pravda has a piece discussing the almost certain shock in the "international community" if Saddam is sentenced to death and puts forth that US forces should never have captured him alive.

• Sgt. Joe Picon says goodbye to Lucille.

• 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!

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