17 July 2003 COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY CPA DAILY

17 July 2003 COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY CPA DAILY Key Messages – Political Process This past weekend, Iraq's new Governing Council was formed. This is a momentous step. The launch of the Governing Council means that Iraqis will now play a more central role in running their country. The Governing Council will be an interim body. A body to ensure that all Iraqis' views are properly represented in this interim period. The Governing Council will -- for the first time in Iraq's history -- bring together a balanced representative group of political leaders from across the country. It will represent the diversity of Iraq: whether they are Shi'a or Sunni, Arab or Kurd, Baghdadi or Basrawi, man or woman, all Iraqis will see themselves represented on this Council. The Governing Council will be involved in all significant decisions the Iraqi Government and the Coalition take in the months ahead. The Council will name the new Ministers to lead Iraq's Ministries. And its members will be able to represent Iraq internationally. It will determine the budget for next year. One of the Governing Council's first jobs will be to help launch the constitutional process. The constitution will be written by Iraqis and for Iraqis. It will not be written by the Coalition. Once the constitution is written, the Iraqi people will have an opportunity to approve it, and then hold elections for a sovereign government. Key Quote We talked about Iraq. And I told him and assured him that the United States would stay the course because we believe freedom is on its way to the Iraqi people. And by that, I mean that the Iraqi people are beginning to assume more and more responsibility in their society. Free society requires a certain kind of responsible behavior. And we're seeing more and more of that amongst the Iraqi citizens. Our deep desire is to make sure that the infrastructure is repaired, that people are educated, and health care delivery systems are good. I was honest in my appraisal when I told him that I recognize certain elements of the former regime are interested in keeping the infrastructure blown up because of -- for pure power reasons. And that, I told him, and I will continue to speak as clearly as I can that an attack on the Iraqi infrastructure by the Baathist is an attack on the Iraqi people. And it's those Iraqis are causing the continued suffering, where there's suffering in Iraq. But we're making good progress. I'm proud of Jerry Bremer's work President Bush, during a meeting with Kofi Annan, 14 July Diary: 1400 – CPA Press Briefing, inc Irrigation Ministry – International Media Key Facts Security • Police will now be paid almost doubled than what they were under Saddam. • There is an estimated 100 courts in 130 courthouses operating. • There are 8 prison facilities operating nation-wide • There is now 30,000 police back on the street in Iraq. • Recruitment efforts will begin on August 15. The police will recruit those who are 45 years old or younger who were removed from service by the prior regime for political reasons and new candidates. The goal is to stand-up 65,000+ police officers nationwide over the next two years. New recruits will undergo a basic eight-week course and existing officers will be required to undergo a three week transition and integration course. All officers will undergo regularly scheduled in-service training. • There are 34 stations out of 60 that have been renovated and back in service in Baghdad. • In Baghdad, 3 courts open, to try those arrested. A criminal detention facility has been established. The state of the Iraqi Prisons is being assessed. Troops • In Iraq there are six division-plus equivalents. • This averges around 148,000 Americans and 13,000 coalition under the current structure. ( This equals around 160,000 troops) www.cpa-iraq.org