Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Quarterly Report and Semiannual Report to the United States Congress
Abstract
2010 will be marked by two significant events: (1) the March 7 parliamentary elections, the first since December 2005, which will determine whether a change occurs in the Prime Minister's seat; and (2) the departure of 70,000 U.S. troops by August 31, which will formally end U.S. combat operations in Iraq. The implications and consequences of these two developments, though not directly related to reconstruction, will exert great influence on the nature and scope of the continuing U.S. effort in Iraq. The past three months saw the following notable developments in Iraq's security, governance, and economic sectors: - Security. This quarter's rise in attacks against Government of Iraq (GOI) facilities and political figures, especially in Anbar Province, demonstrated the very serious continuing danger posed by remaining insurgent elements. The safety and security of Iraq now depends on the capacities and capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), which still suffer significant weaknesses, particularly with regard to intelligence and logistics. - Governance. Arab-Kurd disputes continue to brew trouble in Diyala, Ninewa, Salah Al-Din, and Tameem provinces. Control of oil-rich Kirkuk is the focal point of these potentially explosive tensions. Two key challenges will confront the newly elected government after the parliamentary elections: equitably completing the delayed national census, long a flashpoint in Arab-Kurd relations; and maintaining security and promoting reconciliation along the disputed "Green Line" (which separates the Kurdistan Region from the largely Arab portions of Iraq). -Economics. This quarter's round of bidding for oil service contracts, the second in 2009, was a success and portends well for Iraq's economic growth. But the country's aging oil infrastructure needs quick and significant investment for the promise of the December round to reach reality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 30, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA520205
Entities
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction