DOD Progress Report on Iraq

On December 14th, the Department of Defense released its quarterly report to Congress on "Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq", which you can read in its entirety by clicking HERE. As you might imagine, it is a mixed picture, but better than one could have ever hoped for a year ago. Not surprisingly, the left-wing media outlets have completely ignored or glossed over the good news in this report and focused on the negative. To provide a sense of balance then, I feel it is only fair to share some the positive items in the report. The report is 50 pages long, so here are a few excerpts from the report...

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The strategic goal of the United States in Iraq remains a unified, democratic and federal Iraq that can govern, defend and sustain itself and is an ally in the war on terror. This report measures progress towards, and setbacks from, achieving that goal...

There has been significant security progress, momentum in reconciliation at the local and provincial levels and economic progress...


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The continued implementation of the New Way Forward strategy combined with the surge in overall force levels in Iraq has considerably improved overall levels of security during the past quarter. Improved security is beginning to achieve momentum that, if maintained, may lead to sustained stability. The "tribal awakening" movement has grown as an increasing number of sheikhs - Sunni and Shi'a - have chosen to stop resisting the Coalition. They are instead working together with the GoI (Government of Iraq) and the Coalition, including with Provincial Reconstruction Teams, to improve security and economic conditions at the local level...


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"Concerned Local Citizen" (CLC) programs have been established through which members of communities work with Coalition and Iraqi forces to protect their neighborhoods and critical infrastructure... This program enhances the ability of Coalition and Iraqi forces to interact with local residents and obtain information on insurgents and illegal militia activity. The CLC movement is proving crucial to the counterinsurgency effort...


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The number of security incidents has fallen significantly and is now at levels last seen in the summer of 2005. Although ethno-sectarian violence continues to be a concern, overall civilian casualties, enemy attacks and total improvised explosive device attacks have decreased markedly over the reporting period. For example, the number of high-profile attacks in Iraq declined by over 50% since March 2007...


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Coalition forces continue to transfer responsibility for security to the GoI. Karbala Province transitioned to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) on October 29, 2007, bringing the total number of provinces for which the GoI has lead security responsibility to eight of eighteen provinces. In particular, Anbar Province continued to show significant improvements in security... In the southern provinces, Iraqi forces have taken a more assertive role in the security of Basrah City in preparation for the transition of Basrah to PIC in December 2007...


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State-provided electricity outputs for September through November 2007 averaged 107,581 megawatt hours, a 14% increase over production rates for the same period in 2006. Increased electricity delivery can be attributed to several factors, including the 15 new and six rehabilitated power generation units that have come on-line since September 15, 2007...


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The Iraqi economy continues to improve and overcome many challenges to stability and growth. Estimated nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is US$60.9 billion. Real GDP will increase by an estimated 6.3% in 2007 as growth in the non-oil sector continues. The inflation rate has continued to decline due to the Central Bank of Iraq’s tight monetary policy...


Iraq’s basic combat and basic police training facilities continuously operate at or near capacity. As of November 15, 2007, the Coalition and the Ministry of Defense have generated 117 army battalions that are conducting operations at varying levels of capability; another 42 are currently in or planned for force generation. Ten divisions, 34 brigades, and 108 battalions have the lead in counterinsurgency operations in their areas of responsibility. Many elements of the Iraqi Army are now capable of conducting counterinsurgency operations...

In October 2007, the Prime Minister approved a nationwide US$540 million small and medium loan program administered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Ministry of Industry and Minerals to help reduce poverty, promote small business development, address high unemployment rates and stabilize the provinces. The Baghdad pilot program has granted over 4,600 subsidized bank loans valued at more than US$34 million and is estimated to have created 23,000 jobs...

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