Iraqi Minister Fawzi Hariri Notes Economic Progress

09 May 2008

Iraq's minister of industry says his country is making real economic strides in the post-Saddam era, but any rapid pullout of U.S. troops would put that progress at risk

Iraqi Minister of Industry Fawzi Hariri

Industry and Minerals Minister Fawzi Hariri says rebuilding and expanding Iraq's economy amid civil strife in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion has been, as he put it, "challenging." Among his goals is to transform industrial output from outdated, state-owned operations to modernized production that responds to the free market.

"The vision that we have is to open up the state-owned enterprises for the private sector, and develop a partnership or joint venture. And that will be a first in the history of Iraq," he said.

Hariri, who spoke to reporters at Washington's National Press Club, says domestic and foreign investment is flowing into Iraq, and the country's private sector is expanding. He also says that Iraq is beginning to make the political progress necessary to solidify and sustain economic progress.

But he says the security situation remains fragile, and Iraq will continue to need the backing of U.S. military forces if it is to prosper.

"Clearly, Iraq as it stands and its military capacity is unable to sustain any foreign intervention on its own," he added. "And therefore, we believe we need to have the U.S. forces still present in Iraq. The removal of forces, especially in a fast or quick way, will not only put Iraq in danger, it will put the whole regional stability in danger."

Both major Democratic presidential candidates have pledged to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, arguing that the indefinite presence of American soldiers has made it easier for Iraq's leaders to put off painful decisions necessary for national reconciliation. President Bush and the presumed Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, have pledged to retain U.S. forces in Iraq until lasting democracy is secured.

Recent weeks have seen media reports of vast oil profits in Iraq, leading some U.S. politicians to question why the United States is spending billions of dollars to rebuild the country. Minister Hariri said it is only in the last year that Iraq's national finances have improved, and that Iraq is doing all it can to invest in reconstruction projects. He added that Iraq is willing to repay foreign governments that take part in efforts to rebuild his country.

Separately, Coalition forces in Iraq today killed nine enemy fighters and detained 13 suspects during a series of operations across the country that targeted al-Qaida and its foreign-terrorist network, military officials said.
-- In Baghdad, coalition detained a wanted man who allegedly is part of al-Qaida operations north of the city. Another suspect also was detained.

-- Sixty miles west of Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted man linked to the movement of terrorists into Iraq.

-- Coalition forces detained 10 more suspected terrorists during operations in northwestern Iraq.

-- Coalition forces used Hellfire missiles to kill nine insurgents in New Baghdad.

-- Another insurgent was killed in Kadhamiyah when the roadside bomb he was emplacing detonated.

In yesterday’s operations:

--In Adhamiyah, local “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group members found explosives that had been picked up accidentally by a sanitation truck. The Iraqis found two 81 mm projectiles, a 120 mm mortar, a projectile booster and detonation cord.

-- In eastern Rashid, Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers seized munitions found in an abandoned mosque. Seized items included homemade explosives, a rocket-propelled grenade with launcher, a smoke grenade, and an Iraqi army uniform.

-- In western Rashid, U.S. soldiers found three 107 mm rockets, five rocket-propelled grenades, a 60 mm mortar and 200 rounds of machine-gun ammunition. Later in the same area, U.S. soldiers found eight 155 mm projectiles and five 60 mm mortar rounds.

-- Coalition forces detained more than 20 suspected insurgents during an operation in the Khatoon district of Baqouba.

-- U.S. soldiers operating in New Baghdad detained a suspected criminal linked to a recently thwarted attack using a bomb designed to pierce armor.

U.S. Army Spc. Amy Ellenwood holds a chick during a distribution of more than 13,000 chicks to poultry farmers in Hawr Rajab, May 6, 2008. The chicks are part of efforts to revive agriculture in the South Baghdad area. Ellenwood is assigned to Company A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion.

-- During a raid in Baghdad’s Rashid district, U.S. soldiers seized an AK-47 rifle, knives and a satchel containing 15,000 U.S. dollars and more than 2 million Iraqi dinars.

-- U.S. soldiers detained a suspected al-Qaida terrorist in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Jamiyah.

-- Northwest of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers detained a criminal leader during an operation in the Taji Qada district.

-- In Adhamiyah, a coalition-launched Hellfire missile killed two terrorists who had attacked a detachment of Iraqi police.

-- West of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers discovered three mortar rounds, four grenades, a land mine and numerous blasting caps.

-- In Kadhamiyah, Iraqi soldiers found 53 blocks of plastic explosives, two 107 mm rockets, an 82 mm mortar round, several rocket rails, six grenades and some maps of Baghdad. Material suitable for making roadside bombs was also found, including seven 10-inch copper plates, three four-inch copper plates, two lengths of detonation cord, 12 spools of wire, 10 grenade fuses, four blasting caps, two supplement charges and a detonator.

-- In Sadr City, U.S. soldiers in an M1A2 Abrams tank fired two high-explosive rounds and killed two insurgents, while in another action, a group of U.S. soldiers killed one insurgent.

-- In New Baghdad, a coalition aerial weapons team fired a Hellfire missile and killed two men who were planting a roadside bomb.

-- Sons of Iraq killed four insurgents and found a large weapons cache in Salahuddin province. The cache yielded several suicide vests, 800 pounds of explosives and other material suitable for making roadside bombs.

-- In Baghdad’s Adhamiyah sector, Iraqi security forces detained three insurgents. The detainees are linked to murders and displacement of Iraqi citizens.

-- U.S. special operations troops killed two enemy fighters on a rooftop during security operations in the Sadr City area of Baghdad.

In May 6 operations:

-- Sons of Iraq killed three enemy fighters in northwestern Baghdad and a coalition-fired missile killed an insurgent following a rocket attack in Sadr City that injured seven Iraqi civilians.

-- In Baghdad’s Rashid district, U.S. soldiers found three mortar rounds, four rocket-propelled grenades and two boxes of ammunition.