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Brig. Gen. Rock Donahue |
Impressive to say the least:
“ In January of 2008, US Forces resided on a total of 505 bases and facilities. Since then, 461 of these bases and facilities have been closed or returned to the Government of Iraq and the remaining 44 will be turned over by 31 December.”
We did not just walk off the bases and facilities but completed a detailed transition plan in accordance with international agreements, Central Command regulations and Army Corps of Engineer guidance. Transition tasks include real estate, property management, contracting and environmental oversight. A thorough hand off with a joint review with Iraqi leaders is the outcome.
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Iraqi workers dig a new sewer system in Oubaidi ... |
The “final leg of the journey” according to the general was the environmental cleanup, the providing of civil resources such as schools, medical facilities and power generation. He came prepared with statistics: 1,600 schools built, 7,000 megawatts of power generation, environmental clean up actions at 600 sites, $8 Billion spent on 5,000 Army Corps of Engineer projects and 30% of regulated waste being recycled. Human health and safety has been improved by our efforts and that training provided to Iraqis will improve their own country to a new standard is the hope.
Iraqi roads have been improved by our teams with 4,300 IEDs removed by 55,000 route clearance patrols since 2005. Bridges rebuilt and more than 50,000 kilometers cleared every month and now the Iraqis have their own equipment and personnel trained by the engineers. He feels “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome and when I asked if there was anything to cause a delay to leaving by December 31st, he said, “what keeps me awake at night”? "The time to finish projects"! It is an aggressive schedule and the final 41 facilities will be handed over on time.
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Iraqi workers place cement at one of four new pump... |
A big shout to all of our military service members who served during the Iraq war and their families who sacrificed as well!
If you would like to listen to this Roundtable or read a transcript, please go to DoDLive! Thank you very much General Donahue, for taking the time to speak with the Roundtable this morning (afternoon). If you would like to read other Roundtable or Iraq blogs please click on the links.
All quotes are from Brig Gen Donahue.
Photo Credit: Brig Gen Rock Donahue DoDLive
Photo Credit: Army Corps of Engineers
Iraqi workers dig a new sewer system in Oubaidi, a neighborhood in Baghdad. Before the sewer project was completed raw sewage collected in the streets causing health hazards for residents. The new sewer collection system is now fully operational, having recently been completed by the Gulf Region South district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Photo Credit: Army Corps of Engineers
Iraqi workers place cement at one of four new pump stations managed by the Gulf Region South district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in in Oubaidi, a neighborhood of Baghdad.
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