One year of freedom in Iraq should not be lightly dismissed. U.S. Ambassador in London writes.

Daily Telegraph ^ | 19 March, 2004 | Ambassador William Farish

[tjwmason]

One year of freedom in Iraq should not be lightly dismissed
By William Farish
(Filed: 19/03/2004)

Today marks the first anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We have made enormous strides in 12 months. Iraq, today, faces many challenges, but it is also much different and much better place than a year ago.

Last month, Oxford Research International conducted a survey of 2,652 people from all 16 governorates in Iraq. When asked to compare life a year ago to their life today, more than 56 per cent of Iraqis stated that their life was better.

When asked how things were going in their lives today, 71 per cent stated things were going quite good to very good. Seventy-one per cent also believed that their lives will be better in a year's time.

The polling data show that Iraqis have complaints as well, but for, the first time in decades, the people of Iraq are free to voice their opinions and celebrate their religions, without ending up in one of the countless mass graves that pepper the countryside.

Where once information was closely guarded and publications risked certain death if they did not follow strict regime instructions, a free press now flourishes. News from the outside world, previously a privilege reserved for the regime's cronies, is readily available via the many satellite dishes that now dot the map of the new Iraq.

Health care spending is 26 times greater now than it was under the former regime. All 240 hospitals and 95 per cent of Iraq's clinics have been reopened, re-supplied and re-equipped. More than 12,000 tons of medicine have been distributed nationwide.

Three million children under five have received vaccinations against deadly childhood diseases and 30 million doses of vaccines have been procured since July.

Areas that were once cut off from the most basic government services, including clean water and waste disposal, are being revitalised. The marshlands that were being systematically destroyed by the Saddam regime are being restored through a combined initiative with the governments of Canada, Italy, Australia and Britain.

Today, Iraq's electricity supply exceeds pre-war levels. The communications systems have been upgraded to allow for international calling and internet access, something that was forbidden before liberation. Bridges and roads have been repaired.

Sewage treatment plants are being rehabilitated and expanded to prevent the dumping of millions of litres of raw waste into the Euphrates and Tigris. Fresh water plants are being repaired and enlarged to serve a greater percentage of the population.

Economically, the country has made great strides to overcome the corruption of Saddam's regime. A new currency has been introduced, fairer taxation systems have been adopted, corporate laws have been re-written, foreign banks have been given permission to operate and micro-lending has been introduced to support small business development.

As George W Bush stated during his visit to Britain last autumn: "The United States and Great Britain share a mission in the world beyond the balance of power or the simple pursuit of interest. We seek the advance of freedom and the peace that freedom brings."

While the list of accomplishments in one year is impressive, challenges remain. Rogue elements, remnants of Saddam's regime and foreign terrorists work to deprive the Iraqi people of their bright future, as shown by the Ashura massacre, the Arbil bombings and the assassinations of Iraqis and foreigners working to improve their nation. And yet, the Iraqi people persevere, because they believe - for the first time in decades - in the future.

They now have hope. On March 8, a historic step on Iraq's path to democracy was taken when the Transitional Administrative Law was signed.

The process used to draft this document was just as important as the final result. For the first time in modern history, Kurd sat down with Arab, Shia with Sunni and Christian, men with women, as they worked together to design the blueprint for Iraq.

The Transitional Administrative Law established the principles on which the government and subsequent constitution will be based, including an independent judiciary and guarantee of basic rights.

It incorporates a federalist approach to national governance, yet preserves local governments' rights and responsibilities. The Transitional Administrative Law also sets out the elections for the National Assembly, and the creation and ratification of a national constitution.

Last fall, President Bush and Tony Blair stated: "For the first time in decades, the Iraqi people are enjoying the taste of freedom … great challenges remain in Iraq.

But the progress we have made this year has been enormous. Our resolve to complete the task we set ourselves remains undiminished. Our partnership with the Iraqi people is for the long-term."

The cut and thrust of the current debates about WMD and the difficulties encountered over the past year will continue; however, in the heat of those debates, the accomplishments made over the past year should not be dismissed.

The 25 million people of Iraq face a brighter future now that Saddam Hussein is no longer in power - one they will make their own, with the support of their friends and partners in Britain, the United States and around the world.

• The author is US Ambassador to the Court of St James.

[tjwmason]

This marvellous article by the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of Saint James (i.e., to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), is one of several very good pieces in today's Daily Telegraph, the Telegraph was vehemently pro-war, and was the best source of information during it.

I particularly like the quotation of President Bush which I have highlighted.

Long live the transatlantic alliance.
God save the Queen, and God bless the United States.

[antiRepublicrat]

I listened to the news this morning about the 1-year anniversary. All I heard was the death tolls and the need for the president to get things in order before the election. Talk about biased! Not one word about the freedom and better conditions of the Iraqis.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Thanks for posting... Inspiring piece, particularly W's quote.

Is the world safer with our having desposed Saddam? 30 million Iraqis freed: think of the generations and millions of man-years that will be improved as the result of the US/coalition's action! For those (Howard Dean, partisan media, Kerry defenders) who argue that the world isn't safer, they need to be reminded of Libya's unilateral (but rather coerced) disarmament of WMDs... and the revelations of the spread of nuclear arms via Pakistan's network. Would any of that have been uncovered without our action in Iraq? No.

Democrats continue to try and share Ronald Reagan's great accomplishment in winning the Cold War -- many "intellectuals" argue "it was just a matter of time... the Soviets were on the verge of collapse... Reagan didn't do anything special..." Reagan confronted the disdain of the world when he pushed for deploying Pershing missiles into Western Europe... and for not backing down in his negotiations with Gorby. And for building up the military after years of neglect by Jimmy "I'll Never Lie To You" Carter and Demo controlled congresses.

Hundreds of millions of people now live in relative freedom and democracy (some very shakey but at least in their formative stages) because of Ronald Reagan (with help and credit to Maggie Thatcher, the Pope and a few others). Nobody in 20th Century History (maybe with the exception of Churchill) has a legacy to match that.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, tjwmason. Bless our Brit allies!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

As George W Bush stated during his visit to Britain last autumn: "The United States and Great Britain share a mission in the world beyond the balance of power or the simple pursuit of interest. We seek the advance of freedom and the peace that freedom brings."

While the list of accomplishments in one year is impressive, challenges remain. Rogue elements, remnants of Saddam's regime and foreign terrorists work to deprive the Iraqi people of their bright future, as shown by the Ashura massacre, the Arbil bombings and the assassinations of Iraqis and foreigners working to improve their nation. And yet, the Iraqi people persevere, because they believe - for the first time in decades - in the future.

They now have hope.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Democratshavenobrains]

Too bad more of our ambassadors can't be more active in supporting their country's policies.