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Heard on the Street

Building Iraq’s Economy is Vital

posted on 03/19/08

Ambassador Charles P. Ries, Coordinator for Economic Transition in Iraq, event titled “Beyond Bricks and Mortar: The ‘Civilian Surge’ in Iraq,” United States Institute of Peace, March 11, 2008:

“We needed to change our focus from bricks and mortar to giving our Iraqi partners the technical assistance they needed. … How? By addressing some of the critical economic priorities that would bolster stability and improve the Iraqis’ ability to govern. If we could do that— bring even a modest economic revival to neighborhoods now experiencing greater security—the gains of the military surge would be less likely to be undermined by still active insurgents looking for ways to create chaos. … But to make that happen, Iraq needs to undertake key reforms. … The best assistance we can give is expertise, making the Iraqi government and economy more effective, more flexible, more dynamic. … Economic transition is, of course, just one part of our effort in Iraq. But as we have seen over the last few months, it is essential to Iraq’s broader transition to democratic governance and political reconciliation."