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Fact Sheet: Success of the Surge Allows Political Improvements in Iraq
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 15, 2008

Fact Sheet: Success of the Surge Allows Political Improvements in Iraq
President Bush Receives An Update On U.S. Efforts To Help Improve
Governance, Economic Development, And Budget Execution With Local And
Provincial Governments In Iraq

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ President Bush Participates in Video Teleconference with Iraq
Provincial Reconstruction Team Leaders and Brigade Combat Commanders ÿÿÿÿÿ
In Focus: Iraq

Today, President Bush received an update from Iraq Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) leaders and Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Commanders
on the important progress they are making in communities around Iraq.ÿ The
President spoke to representatives from PRTs and BCTs in Ninewa, Maysan,
and Sadr City. PRTs have been a key element of the surge strategy for Iraq
announced by the President in January 2007.ÿ They are made up of hundreds
of personnel from the State Department, USAID, the Departments of Justice
and Agriculture, Coalition forces, and others.ÿ They are working to further
secure military gains by helping Iraq achieve economic and political
stabilization.

PRTs Have Seen Significant Success Working With Local Government Officials
  þ NinewaProvincial Reconstruction Team has contributed to the following
    results:
      þ Securing funding for 39 reconstruction projects that will employ
        6,000 young Iraqis and distribute 200 metric tons of wheat seed to
        struggling famers in drought-afflicted areas in the province. ÿ
      þ Increasing coordination with the Iraqi Government and their local
        counterparts on reconstruction.
      þ Working with the Iraqi Government to place new judges willing to
        convict terrorists in the province.
  þ Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team has contributed to the following
    results:
      þ Distributing food and clothing to more than 1,000 of the province_s
        poorest citizens during Ramadan this year.
      þ Obtaining furniture and equipment for two secondary schools and
        supplied Maysan University with a computer lab, internet, and
        donated books for students.
      þ Continuing to encourage reconciliation with tribal leaders and
        government officials.ÿ
  þ Sadr City Provincial Reconstruction Team has contributed to the
    following results:
      þ Partnering with local leaders to provide 265,000 school uniforms
        and backpacks for students  an initiative that is also helping
        local community businesses grow.ÿ
      þ Rehabilitating four health clinics, supporting youth soccer
        leagues, and helping support a women_s clinic that provides medical
        assistance, education, and domestic violence counseling.

The Government Of Iraq Has Taken Over Reconstruction And Is Working To
Respond To The Needs Of The Iraqi People
  þ 

    Since 2003, the Government of Iraq has appropriated $85 billion for
    reconstruction and security costs, as compared to $50 billion by the
    United States.ÿ The United States has not appropriated any funds for
    major reconstruction since 2005.
      þ 

        The Iraqi Government continues to increase its budgets across the
        board  a base budget followed by a supplemental passed in August
        of this year brought the total to $72 billion, a substantial
        increase from 2007_s $41 billion.
      þ 

        The Iraqi Government_s budget execution has picked up in 2008  the
        total government expenditure through June 2008 was $19 billion,
        compared to $10 billion through the same period last year.
      þ 

        The Government of Iraq recently took over responsibility for paying
        the salaries of approximately 51,000 Sons of Iraq serving in the
        Baghdad area.ÿ Iraq_s security ministries are paying for more than
        80 percent of the annual cost of the Iraqi military and police
        under the 2008 budget.

Iraqi Leaders Are Working Together And Making Further Progress On Political
Reconciliation

While security gains remain fragile, the Iraqi government is making
political progress. ÿThe Council of Representatives has passed several
major pieces of legislation, including a pension law, De-Ba_athification
reform, an amnesty law, and a provincial powers law.ÿ Neighboring countries
have begun restoring diplomatic relations with Iraq  a true sign of the
country_s increasing reintegration into the region.
  þ 

    Iraq_s Parliament passed a Provincial Elections Law, enabling Iraq to
    hold provincial elections by January 31, 2009. ÿElections in Iraq can
    now be held under a new system that will give Iraqis more say in
    choosing their elected representatives.
      þ 

        The national government is sharing oil revenues with provinces
        despite the absence of a hydrocarbon and revenue-sharing law.
  þ 

    Iraq_s neighbors are reestablishing diplomatic relations  Kuwait, the
    United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, and the League
    of Arab States have all named ambassadors to Iraq.ÿ The U.A.E. became
    the first Arab nation to post its ambassador to Baghdad and give Iraq
    100 percent debt relief of approximately $7 billion.
  þ 

    Regional leaders are traveling to Iraq to pursue productive dialogue 
    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, King Abdullah of Jordan,
    Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed
    Aboul Gheit, and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed have all visited
    Baghdad.

Iraqi Security Forces_ Capacity Continues To Improve As Security Incidents
In Iraq Remain At Their Lowest Levels Since Early 2004
  þ 

    Successful operations led by Iraqi Security Forces in Basrah, Mosul,
    and Sadr City to take on Al Qaeda in Iraq have helped improve security
    in cities once plagued by insurgents.
      þ 

        High profile attacks have decreased by 70 percent in Iraq,
        ethno-sectarian violence across Iraq has gone down 96 percent, and
        civilian causalities have gone down 76 percent since this time last
        year.
      þ Return on Success continues: All five surge brigade combat teams,
        two Marine battalions, a Marine Expeditionary Unit, and many of our
        coalition partners have left Iraq to return home  made possible by
        the sustained security gains we have seen in Iraq.

Participants in today_s meeting included:
  þ Ted Andrews, PRT Team Leader, e-PRT Baghdad, and Col. John Holt, 3rd
    BCT, 4th ID, Sadr City
  þ Dan Foote, PRT Team Leader, and Col. Phil Battaglia, 4th BCT, 1st
    Cavalry Division, Maysan Province
  þ Alex Laskaris, PRT Team Leader, and Lt. Col. Robert Molinari, XO of 3rd
    ACR, Ninewa Province

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ÿ
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