Iraq's Untold Story: A Memo From USAID

PortAl Iraq notes a USAID summary of social progress. Just two brief items here:

2. Expanding Access to Electricity: In 2002, Baghdad had access to electricity 24 hours a day; the rest of Iraq was limited to 3-6 hours.

• Currently, all 18 governorates receive nearly 14 hours of electricity daily, an incredible improvement for a country emerging from decades of conflict and little investment.


• USAID efforts have added 1,400 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to the national electrical grid, expanding access to 4.2 million Iraqis throughout most of Iraq.

As I've mentioned before, stories in the Western media about problem with electricity are very selective. They usually focus on Baghdad and accurately report problems there, but neglect Saddam's long history of sucking the rest of the country's power dry to keep his capital running. Hardships have been distributed more evenly since the removal of that monster--and they're making progress despite the terror campagin.

And this--

5. Improving Local Governance and Community Development: Iraqi democracy must prove itself through service delivery and community-based solutions to local problems.

• With USAID assistance, representative provincial and municipal governments are more capable of delivering essential services to their constituents.


• Countrywide, more than 670 community action groups focused on civic education, women's advocacy, and anti-corruption have been supported by USAID.


• Working through local NGOs, USAID has implemented 4,672 quick impact projects throughout Iraq, providing short-term employment and restoration of basic services.

Community action groups can be boring beyond words in the U.S.--you can actually punish reporters here by assigning them to report on the latest Sewage District Budget Review. Anything but that! I'll write obits! But this is about government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Posties and everybody else show their lack of imagination, for starters, by failing to recognize that.