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
- An historic event took place in Iraq this past Thursday - the first democratically elected government. While some poo poo or totally ignore the event, Arab press outlets across the world hailed the elections and particularly Sunni turnout, which was stunning in itself. There were a few complaints of voter intimidation and fraud, but these were made to representatives of the Iraqi government by individuals who were Shia, Sunni, Christian and Kurd alike. There was very little violence – In January, insurgents staged more than 250 attacks on Election Day; killing 44 people. This time, U.S. military officials counted 18 attacks on polling stations. Eight people died. The polls stayed open late to handle the high turnout and apparently there was a shortage of ballots in several Sunni populated areas. Turnout in Tikrit – Saddam’s hometown – was reported at greater than 80%.
Interestingly enough, Iraqi prisoners were the first to vote.
Other Topics Today Include: Michael Yon interview, Anthony Shadid on Iraq past and future, White House turning over reconstruction, reconstruction highlights, Iraqi economy growing, detention center abuse, Talibani not seeking re-election, Rice lauds international community involvement, summary of Japan's Iraq mission, Shias protest al-Jazeera, Kidnapped Egyptian dead, no word on Canadians, Reserve LTC charged
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
- Michael Yon has information up regarding a couple of photos he took in Iraq. Also there is this interview (MP3) on Straight From The Hip with Steve Aiken, a radio show Joel Gaines contributes to.
- Anthony Shadid brings us a story of Professor Wamidh Nadhme and his view of Iraq's journey through modern time.
RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY
- First the White House outlined a strategy of building up Iraq's security forces as the ticket home for U.S. troops. Now the US is promoting a parallel vision that calls for progressively turning over control of U.S.-funded development projects, worth about $21 billion, to Iraqis.
- U.S. official says Iraqi economy shows strong growth.
- Here are some of this week's reconstruction highlights: The USAID-Funded Economic Governance II Project’s technical assistance has helped amend reserve requirement regulations, a percentage of a bank’s assets that must be maintained as liquid assets. This allows the CBI to influence the money supply by restricting the funds available for lending purposes; consequently, this will enhance the CBI’s ability to conduct sound monetary policy and achieve price stability. The second part of the changes made to the CBI’s new reserve requirement regulations is the creation of new enforcement guidelines. These guidelines include the imposition of fines on banks not meeting the reserve requirement, sending an important signal to the financial community that the CBI is assuming its role as regulator and supervisor. Business leaders from Ramadi and Falluja meet with USAID to plan economic development. Twenty-four Iraqi government officials recently participated in a training program at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Grant to clean canals in Muthanna Governorate complete. USAID’s Agricultural Reconstruction and Development in Iraq (ARDI) project recently completed three grants to clean a network of irrigation canals and drains in Muthanna governorate. These tertiary level canals and drains, which total 109.5 kilometers, serve farmers’ fields in 35 villages. Grant to expand ARDI’s Animal and Zoonetic Disease Awareness program approved. Over 14,000 students have enrolled in the 2005/06 Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) throughout the Southern and Central governorates. Water and sanitation facilities have been rehabilitated in 411 schools. Work is continuing at an additional 186 schools. Training in the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Strategy is beginning in central and southern Iraq. A USAID-funded income generation project in Fallujah has allowed 100 residents from six of the hardest-hit southern sectors of the town the opportunity
to earn a living.
IRAQI POLITICS
- An Iraqi government search of a detention center in Baghdad operated by Interior Ministry special commandos found 13 prisoners who had suffered abuse serious enough to require medical treatment, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will not seek re-election after Thursday's parliamentary election because the new constitution has curbed his powers.
THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
- Secretary Rice says the international community is becoming heavily involved in Iraq.
- Commentary - On December 8, 2005 Prime Minister Koizumi announced that Japan's Self-Defense Forces would remain for another year in Samawa in support of the US war in Iraq. Their mission: to provide "reconstruction and humanitarian assistance". What has the 500 person SDF mission accomplished and at what cost? How have local people responded to its presence?
ETCETERA
- Thousands of Iraqi Shias have staged demonstrations in several cities in protest against the Arabic satellite television channel al-Jazeera after the channel for allegedly aired an insulting remark about Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's leading Shia cleric.
- An Egyptian kidnapped in Iraq was found dead recently near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
- There is still no word on the Canadian hostages kidnapped by Swords of Righteousness Brigades in Iraq.
- An Army Reserve lieutenant colonel was arrested Thursday on charges she was part of a conspiracy to steer Iraqi reconstruction contracts to a businessman in exchange for money and gifts, including a Cadillac SUV. She is the second arrested under these charges.
- 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!
- Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.
- 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.
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