Iraq Index Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq (pdf file)

Brookings Institution ^ | May 8, 2006

[bnelson44]

Progress in iraq via Brookings.

[Dog Gone]

Wow, that's really an excerpt.

[saganite]

What's the cliff notes version?

[bnelson44]

Iraq Index Shows Progress Being Made

The Brookings Institution released its latest Iraq Index this week.  I would encourage you to read it all, but here are some notable items:

1. Per Capita GDP (USD) for 2005 is forecast to increase from the previous year to $1,051.  In 2002 it was $802.
2. Increases in GDP for the next five years: 16.8, 13.6, 12.5, 7.8, and 7.2.
3. Actionable tips from Iraqis have increased every month this year.  In January, 4,025 tips were received; February, 4,235; and March, 4,578.
4. On an index of political freedom for countries in the Middle East, Iraq now ranks fourth, just below Israel, Lebanon, and Morocco.
5. Crude oil production reached 2.14 million barrels a day (MBD) in April of this year. It had dropped to 0.3 MBD in May of 2003.
6. Revenues from oil export have only slightly increased from pre-war levels of $0.2 billion, to $0.62 billion in April.
7. Electrical output is almost at the pre-war level of 3,958 megawatts.  April's production was 3,600 megawatts.  In May of 2003, production was only 500 megawatts.  The goal is to reach 6,000 megawatts.
8. The unemployment rate in June of 2003 was 50-60%, and in April of this year it had dropped to 25-40%.
9. The number of U.S. military wounded has declined significantly from a high of 1,397 in November 2004 to 430 in April of this year.
10. Iraqi military casualties were 201 in April of 2006, after peaking at 304 in July of 2005.
11. As of December 2005, countries other than the U.S., plus the World Bank and IMF, have pledged almost $14 billion in reconstruction aid to Iraq.
12. Significant progress has also been made towards the rule of law.  In May 2003 there were no trained judges, but as of October 2005 there were 351.
13. As of January 2006, 64% of Iraqis polled said that the country was headed in the right direction. 
14. Also as of January 2006, 77% said that removing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do.
15. In May of 2003, Iraqi Security Forces were estimated at between 7,000-9,000.  They numbered 250,500 in March of this year.
16. The breakdown of foreign terrorists by country of origin is interesting.  The largest number come from Algeria, at 20%.  The next two countries are Syria and Yemen, at 18% and 17%, respectively.
17. The number of foreign terrorists fighting in Iraq was estimated at between 300 and 500 in January 2004.  That number increased in April of this year, to between 700 and 2,000.
18. From May 2003 and April 2006, between 1,000 and 3,000 anti-Iraqi forces have been killed each month.

There is plenty to pleased about here, and much progress for the mainstream media and the left to ignore.

 

[Politicalities]

Wow, that's really an excerpt.

Nope, that's the whole thing... at NRO, anyway. It links to the All Things Conservative blog, which in turn links to the Brookings Iraq Index.

[bnelson44]

Ask and you shall receive ;)

[bnelson44]

Also see:

We Will Decisively Win in Iraq...in 2008

http://futurist.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/we_will_in_iraq.html

[bnelson44]

Probably all people interested in Iraq should read the report in full:

http://www.brook.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

[A message]

We Will Decisively Win in Iraq...in 2008

And we are decisively winning now. I see every evidence that the campaign is moving forward to a conclusion of our goals. The forces of radical violent Jihad are being defeated, no they are being humiliated in Iraq.

I've always believed the time table for this campaign would take until 2010.

We are on schedule.

PS: My family says thanks to your family and your Tanker. Move fast, load well, be on target. Prayers.

[bnelson44]

Thank you

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks B. Will do. So many good things to report. They in my opinion out weigh the bad other then our guys still being KIA and WIA. Thing like the total electrical output would be significantly higher if the goons where not blowing up power lines and some sub stations in remote areas. We had exceeded the pre-invasion electrical output in 2005 for a short time, before insurgents made a concerted effort to blow stuff up.