With the future of Iraq uncertain, a new report produced jointly by the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the United Nations Foundation aims to provide legislators and those involved in post-conflict reconstruction efforts with strategies for rebuilding Iraq. The report, Iraq in Transition: Post-Conflict Challenges and Opportunities, discusses the laws governing occupation, examines the challenges in reconstructing Iraq, and provides benchmarks in the key areas of security, governance, economics, social services, and justice, in order to enable the international community to measure Iraq’s progress toward a more free and open society.
These benchmarks include:
- establishing an independent Iraqi security force;
- providing dedicated UN security to permit greater UN presence in Iraq;
- holding certifiably free and fair elections and drafting a permanent constitution;
- creating mechanisms for transparent and open management of Iraq’s finances and revenues;
- accelerating the disbursement of pledged international aid and achieving substantial debt reduction for Iraq;
- expanding Iraqi job opportunities in both public and private sectors.
Although it will be years before the world can fully assess the consequences of the U.S. and U.K. post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq, Iraq in Transition serves as a resource guide that begins to analyze the social, political, and economic effects of the occupation. “During occupation, the Coalition forces faced immense responsibilities and challenges,” said Morton H. Halperin of OSI-Washington. “Some errors and omissions were inevitable, but many of the mistakes were the result of ignoring the advice of those who knew Iraq best.”
A main legacy of the occupation is an unstable security environment in Iraq, due in part to inadequate planning; poor on-the-ground diplomacy; and insufficient troop levels during the post-conflict period. In the four months since the Coalition handed over political power to an interim Iraqi government, widespread violence and insurgent attacks have escalated. Efforts to rebuild Iraq are proceeding, but at a much slower pace than originally envisioned, as contractors are kidnapped and killed and newly restored installations are sabotaged.
Iraq in Transition demonstrates that security issues, both during and beyond occupation, have dramatically affected Iraq’s ability to establish self-governance and move forward with other aspects of reconstruction. Security concerns continue to plague preparations for the upcoming elections in Iraq, scheduled for January 2005.
Iraq in Transition also addresses the troubling economic legacy left by the occupation forces. On a rushed timeline just before the end of the occupation and with little Iraqi involvement, the Coalition Provisional Authority, which governed Iraq during occupation, committed billions of dollars to projects the Iraqi interim government is now obligated to carry out. Further hampering its economic recovery, Iraq’s electric and oil output are lower now than prior to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and, despite massive international pledges for financial assistance, Iraq still faces unsustainable debt.
Iraq in Transition follows Reconstructing Iraq: A Guide to the Issues, a report produced last year by the Open Society Institute and the United Nations Foundation.