Hospitals open, schools rehabilitated and infrastructure projects continuing

By Howard Cincotta
Washington File Special Correspondent

Even as he mourned the death of U.N. Special Envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and others murdered in the bombing of U.N headquarters in Baghdad, L. Paul Bremer, administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), expressed renewed determination to defeat terrorism and continue the progress toward Iraq's recovery.

Speaking at an August 23 press conference in Baghdad, Bremer said that despite a grim week that began with the sabotage of an oil pipeline and ended with the U.N. bombing, "beneath the surface was a swelling tide of good news."

Bremer cited numerous examples in his opening remarks:

-- Baghdad city workers repaired the damage from an attack on a major water main, expected to take days, in less than 24 hours.

-- During the past week, work was completed on the rehabilitation of two major electrical centers in Baghdad.

-- The $5 million restoration of Rustameya's South Sewage Treatment Plant is continuing.

-- Work continued in Kirkuk on rehabilitation of four public health clinics serving nearly 95,000 people.

-- Progress continues on projects to bring adequate irrigation to 35,000 farmers in Waset Province as well as adequate drinking water to the 3,000 residents of a local village.

-- With the apprehension of Ali Hasan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," the coalition now has killed or captured 39 of the 55 most wanted individuals of the former regime.

"These are specific examples from a vast array of positive developments every day all over Iraq," Bremer said. "Throughout Iraq, 1,000 primary schools will be rehabilitated by the coalition in time for the opening of the school year. As those schools open, the coalition will distribute five million new math and science textbooks. Scores of projects like these are not just continuing, they are accelerating across the country."

In response to a question, Bremer conceded that the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) control of Iraq's borders, which range from marsh areas to desert and mountains, has been difficult. Nevertheless, Bremer said, the CPA today has more than 2,500 border police on duty and plans to expand to 25,000 during the next year. "So we agree that there is a problem and we are addressing it," he said.

Bremer said that a vigorous investigation into those responsible for the U.N. truck bombing is underway, but he refused to speculate about what groups might be responsible or whether any neighboring states played a role in the attack.

"But let me say this," Bremer added. "Those yearning for the return of Baathism will be disappointed and those seeking the imposition of some fresh tyranny will fail. They may pull off an operation or two, or maybe 10, but they will fail."

Despite security concerns and constraints, Bremer said that the pace of reconstruction in Iraq has not been slowed significantly.

"All 240 hospitals are now operating, 90 percent of the health clinics in this country are operating," he said. "That's due to reconstruction efforts by coalition, by its civil affairs people, by our AID contractors, by NGOs we're working with, and by U.N. specialized agencies. We have by now completed more than 2,000 projects here in the last few months and we will continue to do that. It will not slow us down."

Bremer dismissed speculation about tension or divisions between the Provisional Authority and the appointed Iraqi Governing Council, pointing out that everyone shares the frustrations over the sabotage and delays that have prevented the full restoration of services to prewar levels, especially electric power.

"We have a plan to restore power to prewar levels by the end of September, and we believe we can do that, assuming we do not have more major acts of sabotage," Bremer said.

Bremer added that the Governing Council and the Provisional Authority both agree on the importance of acceleration Iraqi involvement in the reconstruction of their country, particularly in taking measures to ensure security, since sabotage of power lines and other facilities by former regime extremists continues, according to Bremer.

"Today, there are more than 50,000 Iraqis already serving in security areas in the defense of Iraq, Bremer said, "in the Iraqi police, the border guards, in the facilities-protection service, which has been set up to protect fixed sites, and in the new Iraqi Army, as well as the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps."

Bremer also defended the Governing Council's record, pointing out it has already established a commission to explore how to set up a war-crimes tribunal, named committees to examine economic issues and the de-Baathification program, and begun preparations for a constitutional convention.

"They are working hard considering difficult questions that lie before them and before the Iraqi people," Bremer said. It is important for Council members to get out and talk to the Iraqi people and move around the country, Bremer added.

Bremer declined to comment on the need for additional military forces in Iraq, but he noted the Provisional Authority already has staff members from 25 different countries and that 37 countries have pledged to make contributions to Iraq's reconstruction.