*EPF506 11/14/2003
U.S. Troops Initiate Nearly 12,000 Community Projects in Iraq
(Commanders' Emergency Response Program uses Hussein's captured assets) (790)

By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- U.S. military commanders have launched nearly 12,000 Iraqi development projects at a cost of more than $88 million as a part of the Commanders' Emergency Response Program (CERP), which began with the capture of Saddam Hussein's hidden assets.

In a recent interview with the Washington File, Marine Captain David Romley said that coalition forces discovered hoards of money as they captured presidential palaces during the invasion last spring.

"When we captured the funds, the Marines' first reaction was, ����Let's put it back into the economy,'" Romley said. "Everybody saw the needs and saw the resources and jumped at the opportunity to put the money to good use." Romley served in Kuwait and Iraq from November 2002 to August 2003.

Romley said that the CERP originally took form in May, when commanders overseeing towns and villages were each allocated $5,000 to spend at their discretion on projects aimed at helping the communities reestablish order.

He noted, however, that the program has matured significantly since then. The initial success of the CERP has led to a broadening of its scope.

Currently, division commanders are allocated $500,000 each and brigade commanders receive $200,000 each. These funds are distributed to lower level commanders according to standard military procedures and protocol in order to ensure proper accountability and oversight. In all cases, standard project proposals and assessments are required.

Nevertheless, the dynamic element of the program continues to be the soldier on the ground. Captain Romley explained, "Any soldier on patrol who notices that a water pump is not working can go to the commander and say ����I think it would help this place a lot if that pump was repaired.'"

Such requests may be granted immediately at lower levels if small quantities of money are needed. Larger projects requiring more significant disbursements may necessitate approval at higher ranks as well as competitive bidding.

Provisions exist for the approval of projects up to $100,000 at the division level, but the majority of requests are for much smaller amounts with the average project cost well below $10,000.

Defense Department officials highlight that the funds have been used for projects in a variety of areas including infrastructure, public services, educational facilities, health care, community clean-ups and cultural affairs.

CERP funds have been used extensively in repairs to sewer lines, water pipes and pumping stations as coalition forces have sought to bring potable water and adequate waste disposal to Iraqi towns and villages.

Public services have been upgraded through CERP funds applied to the purchase of ambulances, police radios, police vehicles, and protective equipment for firefighters in various communities. Money from the program has also been used to refurbish public service facilities including government offices and police stations.

Many of the school renovations that took place over the summer benefited from CERP funding. Commanders have also tapped the funds to upgrade orphanages, open day care centers and establish adult education centers aimed at raising literacy and basic math skills.

Much of the money has been used to clean up towns and enhance the quality of life. It has gone to the construction of parks and playgrounds as well as the repair of garbage trucks and the implementation of litter collection projects to clean up canals and streets.

Captain Romley noted what he viewed as a particularly important project -- the refurbishment of the Babylon Museum, which suffered extensive looting and vandalism following the invasion. CERP funds financed the renovation of the museum's workshops and the curator's offices.

In a more unusual use of funds, the CERP was accessed to purchase veterinary equipment for the Baghdad Zoo. The zoo's chief veterinarian Adel Salman welcomed the new materiel observing that, "Before the help from the U.S. Army, the zoo was very poor for equipment. There was no surgical capability and little treatment ability because we had no anesthesia or instruments."

Most recently, one commander sponsored Ramadan iftar celebrations at each of the local mosques in the community.

In all cases, contracts are issued to local contractors in order to stimulate the economy and provide work for Iraqis.

Due to the success of the CERP, the Bush administration's recent supplemental spending request included an additional $180 million in funding to ensure that the program will continue. Some of the additional funds will also be available to commanders operating in Afghanistan to allow for an expansion of the program.

"It is an incredibly valuable tool," said Captain Romley. "It is important that commanders have these funds on hand as they produce an immediate positive impact."

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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