Insurgency a Problem for Iraq Rebuilding ( and elections)

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - The insurgency in Iraq (news - web sites) poses a bigger obstacle to rebuilding Sunni-dominated parts of the country today than it did six weeks ago, the coordinator of U.S. reconstruction aid said Friday.


~snip~

"In the Sunni areas and then up in Mosul it is worse today than it was, and we're having greater difficulties from security," he said. "We're worried that in some areas — again, not all — in some areas it would now be difficult to have elections," and so it is important that reconstruction work speed up so that voting can take place nationwide in late January, Taylor added.

~snip~

One of our mechanisms to deal with that, frankly, is to start as many projects as we can, given the fact that we know the insurgents can't be everywhere," Hess said. "Consequently, the more projects we start, we are moving Iraqis out, we're getting them employed, they are doing meaningful labor, they're restoring their country, and in and of itself that is a very positive and powerful thing we want to accomplish between now and the elections in January."


more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=2&u=/ap/20041119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq

[liberal N proud]

1. How they can call them insurgents still baffles me

The united states military invaded their country under orders from a tyranical leader and they are called insurgents.

Falls under the same stupid question as how a Veitnam Veteran statesman can be made to look like a traitor over top of the AWOL moron.
I just don't get it.

[maddezmom]

2. Iraq political parties stress need for security ahead of elections

SULEIMANIYAH, Iraq (AFX) - Iraqi political parties gathered in the north of the country today stressed the need to create a healthy political and security climate ahead of elections set for January 2005.

'The gathered parties insist on the need to hold elections in order to legitimise Iraqi institutions, build a democratic state and establish the rule of law,' 18 parties said in a joint statement issued at the close of the two-day meeting.

A wave of insugent violence continues to sweep Iraq ahead of the polls, with many cities under curfew and a state of emergency declared in much of the country.

'It is imperative to create a healthy political and security climate allowing free elections with the participation of all Iraqis, far from the pressure of terrorism,' the statement said following the meeting, held near Suleimaniyah in northern Iraq.


more: http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/041119/323/f6zdm.html

[maddezmom]

3. U.S., Iraq Plan Major Falluja Rebuilding Program

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Iraq (news - web sites)'s interim government plan to begin a $100 million reconstruction effort within two weeks in Falluja, heavily damaged in an all-out assault against insurgents, officials said on Friday.



The offensive, launched on Nov. 8 and led by U.S. Marines, left numerous buildings destroyed or damaged, and basic services in shambles in the city west of Baghdad that had been a key stronghold for the insurgency.


With Marines still performing building-to-building sweeps for insurgents, Bill Taylor, a State Department official in charge of coordinating reconstruction aid, said the current security situation did not allow for an immediate start for rebuilding efforts.


"Within a week or two -- again, depending on when the city is cleared of people opposing what we're trying to do -- we ought to be able to get the first of these small projects going," he told reporters at the Pentagon (news - web sites) in a teleconference.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041119/ts_nm/iraq_usa_reconstruction_dc&cid=564&ncid=1480