Insurgency attacks delay Sadr City projects
Army News Service
By Sgt. Susan German
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 10, 2004) -- Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, 1st Cavalry Division commanding general, spoke to local Iraqi and Western media during a press conference at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Aug. 8, about the escalation of violence over the last few days in Sadr City.
Attacks on the city by the militiamen and insurgents have made it unsafe for local Iraqis to go to work or to travel around the city, contributing to the temporary loss of 15,000 jobs.
"The actions of terrorists and criminals negatively affect so many," Chiarelli said. "The improvements demanded by so many are delayed by a few who choose to fight against these improvements."
Work has temporarily ceased in Sadr City on projects important to the restoration of essential services to the city, Chiarellis said. He said the priorities remain the same: improvement of sewage systems, water systems, solid waste disposal and electrical power production, all basic services that have been denied to the people of Sadr City for so long. More than $70 million has been secured for Sadr City projects.
"Soldiers and members of the Iraqi security forces have fought and bled together in Sadr City," Chiarelli said. "Over the past three days, heroic Iraqi Soldiers and police, supported by coalition Soldiers have battled the insurgents and maintained control of the streets."
Chiarelli stressed his continued support of the Iraqi government.
"The future of Iraq is firmly rooted in Iraqi hands, and we want nothing more than to aid this great nation as it rebuilds," Chiarelli said. "Rebuilding this great country has been the focus of the 1st Cavalry Division since we arrived here."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
