IRAQ: 2 Years of progress

Timeline:
Democracy
June 28, 2004: Transfer of SovereigntyInterim Iraqi Government established.
August 2004: National Assembly elected.
Jan. 30, 2005: First democratic election.
May 4, 2005: Transitional National Assembly sworn- in.
October 2005: Ratified constitution.
December 2005: Elected a constitutionally-based 4-year government.
March 16: Council of Representatives sworn-in.
June 8: Full Iraqi cabinet established.

JOBS - 2004 unemployment (30 - 40%) 2006 unemployment (28%)

ELECTRICAL OUTPUT - Production of electricity reached a peak in June 2004, when output reached 4,300 megawatts. Since June 2004, insurgent attacks to the infrastructure crippled Iraq’s ability to meet its electrical demands. Two years of improvement to the security situation and the electrical infrastructure have resulted in an average production of 4,800 megawatts - 500 megawatts more than in June 2004. Consumerism has created an increasing demand that is being delivered by a modernized transmission grid that is more stable than in 2004

OIL EXPORT REVENUES - June 2004 oil exports were worth $1.28 billion; March 2006, $2.5 billion.

POLICE AND SECURITY - In June 2004, the Ministry of Interior had no ready police battalions. By June 2006, 28 national police battalions were on patrol, two of which control territory. In June 2004, the Iraqi Security Forces were not operational. Two years later, three Iraqi Army divisions, 18 brigades and 69 battalions control territory throughout Iraq.

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION - More than 40 countries and international groups have embassies or missions in Iraq. The Islamic Republic will establish more than 30 diplomatic missions around the world and is now assisted by the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, United Nations, Arab League, European Union and other nations/ organizations.

WATER - In June 2004, only 5.5 million of Iraq's 25 million citizens had access to a safe and stable water supply. Iraq's cities suffered from inadequate and malfunctioning sewage systems that sometimes left streets filled with raw sewage water.

Baghdad's three sewage plants, comprising 75 percent of Iraq’s total sewage treatment capacity, were not treating waste for more than six years before the conflict. In June 2004 less than one million Iraqis had access to adequate sewage treatment. Today 5 million people benefit from improved sewer lines and water treatment plants and 8.25 million have access to potable water. (Information available from the White House)