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Further to Cathy Aitchison's "US awards deals for post-war Iraq", 11 March 2003, http://www.casi.org.uk/discuss/2003/msg01071.html CASI members will find the USAID document referred to in Neil King Jr., "U.S. Is Quietly Soliciting Bids For Rebuilding Postwar Iraq", Wall Street Journal, 10 March 2003 at Source: USAID, "Vision for Post-Conflict Iraq", 19 February 2003, http://www.casi.org.uk/info/usaid030219.pdf There was an additional item Source: USAID, "Consultations on Iraq Contingency Planning", 24 February 2003, http://www.casi.org.uk/info/usaid030224.pdf In considering the documents, members may wish to recall Source: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "Integrated Humanitarian Contingency Plan for Iraq and Neighbouring Countries", confidential draft, 7 January 2003, pg. 4, http://www.casi.org.uk/info/undocs/internal.html [begin] the collapse of essential services in Iraq ... could lead to a humanitarian emergency of proportions well beyond the capacity of UN agencies and other aid organizations [end] Below are some general comments about USAID, culled from UN contacts engaged with the Iraq issue on the humanitarian end. I have requested general and specific comments on the USAID documents and will forward those assessments if/when I receive them. As a preview, one contact described the USAID vision as a "fantasy". The UN contacts generally describe USAID as ignorant and incompetent, at least when it comes to Iraq. The contacts state that USAID personnel know very little about Security Council economic sanctions on Iraq, and what the economic sanctions-related consequences have had for the Iraqi economy and civilian population. USAID personnel have lauded the primary sanctions exemption, the "oil for food program", as a full replacement of an Iraqi economy at least functioning at a pre-Gulf War capacity. The sanctions exemptions have indeed somewhat reduced the economic damage and permitted the humanitarian situation to improve. But sanctions continue to significantly damage the economy. Resultantly, Iraqis still live daily with a humanitarian crisis. Everyone at the UN with knowledge of living conditions in Iraq is aware of this reality. As expected, UN contingency planning documents thus detail the extreme vulnerability of Iraqi civilians, especially children. Contacts state that these same USAID personnel praise the "oil for food program", despite displaying minimal knowledge about the program and 661 Committee mechanics, failing even to consult with US 661 Committee representatives. Moreover, The Secretary-General and Office of the Iraq Program Executive Director have repeatedly stated that the "oil for food program" is incapable of replacing the Iraqi economy. Nathaniel Hurd NGO Consultant on United Nations' Iraq policy Tel. (Mobile): 917-407-3389 Fax: 718-504-4224 Residential/Mailing Address: 90 7th Ave. Apt. #6 Brooklyn, NY 11217 _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk