NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Coalition Provisional Authority

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States, United Kingdom and the other members of the multinational coalition which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Citing UN Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003), and the laws of war, the CPA vested itself with executive, legislative, and judicial authority over the Iraqi government from the period of the CPA's inception on April 21, 2003, until its dissolution on June 28, 2004. Seal of the Coalition Provisional Authority (Iraq) This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... A transitional government is a temporary national administration usually put into place pending the establishment of a permanent government. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majidida al-Tikriti (Arabic: â€Ž, [1]; born April 28, 1937[2]), was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979 until April 9, 2003, when he was deposed during the United States-led invasion of Iraq. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 was adopted by a vote of 14 to zero (with Syria absent) on 22 May 2003. ... The two parts of the laws of war: Law concerning acceptable practices while engaged in war, like the Geneva Conventions, is called Jus in bello; while law concerning allowable justifications for armed force is called Jus ad bellum. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History of the CPA

The Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), established by the United States Government following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, was intended to act as a caretaker administration in Iraq until the creation of a democratically elected civilian government. This article regards the 2003 invasion of iraq. ... The word caretaker may have numerous meanings, but the most common two are (1) a person or persons who cares for a property in exchange for rent-free living accommodations and (2) temporary government which takes control until a stable rule can be restored. ...

Retired United States Army Lieutenant General Jay Garner was appointed as the Director of ORHA in January of 2003. Upon the dissolution of ORHA and the creation of the CPA, he then became the first chief executive of the CPA. Due to his past military experiences in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and his reconstruction efforts in northern Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort, Garner's credentials and close ties to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld made him an obvious choice for the job. His term, however, lasted only from April 21, 2003, until he was replaced abruptly less than a month later by L. Paul Bremer on May 11, 2003. The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Jay Montgomery Garner (born April 15, 1938) is a retired United States Army general who was appointed in 2003 as Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq following the 2003 invasion of Iraq but was soon replaced by L. Paul Bremer. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Operation Provide Comfort was a military operation by the United States, starting on 24 July 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932, Evanston, Illinois) is the 21st and current United States Secretary of Defense. ... Bremer signs over limited sovereignty to Iraqs interim government, June 28, 2004 Lewis Paul Bremer III, known as Paul Bremer and Jerry among his friends (born September 30, 1941), was named Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq following the Iraq War of 2003, replacing Jay... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ...

Garner's swift dismissal from his post by U.S. authorities came as a surprise to many within the CPA. In an interview with the BBC program Newsnight, Garner publicly stated that his preference was to put the Iraqi people in charge as soon as possible and to do it with some form of elections. Privately, there was intense pressure from the U.S. Government to begin a process of removing members of the Ba'ath Party from their positions within the Iraqi government and military. Garner's refusal to implement this "de-Ba'athification" of Iraqi society as a matter of public policy infuriated several senior members of the U.S. Government, and led directly to his dismissal. The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of Â£4 billion. ... Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22. ... Bath Party flag The Arab Socialist Bath Party (also spelled Baath or Baath; Arabic: ØØ²Ø¨ Ø§Ù„Ø¨Ø¹Ø« Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø±Ø¨ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø´ØªØ±Ø§ÙƒÙŠ) was founded in 1945 as a radical, left-wing, secular Arab nationalist political party. ...

Upon assuming his post in May 2003, L. Paul Bremer also assumed the title of U.S. Presidential Envoy and Administrator in Iraq, and was frequently called Ambassador by numerous media organizations and even by the White House itself. However, Mr. Bremer's Ambassadorial post was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate, his credentials were never formally presented to the Iraqi government, and there was no true U.S. diplomatic mission present in Iraq at that time. Both Garner and Bremer were frequently referred to as Proconsuls in the press, which was the title given to governors of foreign provinces in the Roman Empire.[1][2] Bremer signs over limited sovereignty to Iraqs interim government, June 28, 2004 Lewis Paul Bremer III, known as Paul Bremer and Jerry among his friends (born September 30, 1941), was named Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq following the Iraq War of 2003, replacing Jay... An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization, to serve as the official representative of his or her own country. ... North faÃ§ade of the White House, seen from Pennsylvania Avenue. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Seal on the building of German Embassies. ... For the Miocene ape, see Proconsul (genus) Under the Roman Empire a proconsul was a promagistrate filling the office of a consul. ... Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120. ... The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by an autocratic form of government. ...

The CPA was created and funded as a division of the U.S. Department of Defense, and as Administrator, Bremer reported directly to the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Although troops from several of the coalition countries were present in Iraq at this time, the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) was the primary military apparatus charged with providing direct combat support to the CPA to enforce its authority during the occupation of Iraq. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 335 KB)The Iraqi Republican Palace in August, 2003, prior to removal of the Saddam the Warrior bronze heads from the rooftop. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 335 KB)The Iraqi Republican Palace in August, 2003, prior to removal of the Saddam the Warrior bronze heads from the rooftop. ... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Emblem of the United States Central Command. ...

While many of Saddam Hussein's ornate palaces were looted in the days immediately following the invasion, most of the physical structures themselves survived, relatively intact. It is in these numerous palaces situated throughout the country that the CPA chose to set up office in order to govern. Several of these palaces were retained by the U.S. Government even after the transition of power back to the Iraqi people. Front View Rear View Closeup of Furniture Inside the Grand Dining Hall ...

The CPA was also responsible for administering the Development Fund for Iraq during the year following the invasion. This fund superseded the earlier UN oil-for-food program, and provided funding for: Iraq's wheat purchase program, the currency exchange program, the electricity and oil infrastructure programs, equipment for Iraq's security forces, Iraqi civil service salaries, and the operations of the various government ministries. On May of 2003, following the Invasion of Iraq the Development Fund for Iraq was set up. ... The Oil-for-Food Programme was established by the United Nations in 1996 to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine and the like. ... A civil servant or public servant is a civilian career public sector employee working for a government department or agency. ...

On July 22, 2003, the CPA formed the Iraqi Governing Council and appointed its members. The Council membership consisted largely of Iraqi expatriates who had previously fled the country during the rule of Saddam Hussein and also with many outspoken dissidents who had been persecuted by the former regime. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1552x1032, 162 KB)L. Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi Governing Council on December 14, 2003. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1552x1032, 162 KB)L. Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi Governing Council on December 14, 2003. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Iraqi Governing Council. ... An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. ... A dissident is a person who actively opposes the established order. ...

Though still subordinate to the CPA, the Iraqi Governing Council had several key responsibilities of its own. Its duties included appointing representatives to the United Nations, appointing interim ministers to Iraq's vacant cabinet positions, and drafting a temporary constitution known as the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), which would be used to govern Iraq until a permanent constitution could be written and approved by the general electorate. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... A minister or a secretary is a politician who heads a government ministry or department (e. ... The Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period is the current Iraqi constitution signed on March 8, 2004 by the Iraq Interim Governing Council. ... In politics, an electorate is the group of people entitled to vote in an election. ...

In the late afternoon of December 14, 2003, the CPA held a press conference at the Iraqi Forum convention center within Baghdad's Green Zone to announce that former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein had been taken into custody the previous night from a foxhole in a town near Saddam's home town of Tikrit, Iraq. Present at the announcement was Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez of the U.S. Army, Administrator Bremer, members of the British and American intelligence agencies, several members of the Iraqi Governing Council, and a large room full of journalists representing news organizations from around the world. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1300x946, 111 KB)Press conference held by the Coalition Provisional Authority on December 14, 2003, announcing that Saddam Hussein had been taken into custody. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1300x946, 111 KB)Press conference held by the Coalition Provisional Authority on December 14, 2003, announcing that Saddam Hussein had been taken into custody. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... A joint press conference by U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House. ... Baghdad ( translit: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... The Green Zone is a 10 kmÂ² (4 mileÂ²) area in central Baghdad that is the main base for coalition officials in Iraq. ... The President of Iraq is Iraqs head of state. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majidida al-Tikriti (Arabic: â€Ž, [1]; born April 28, 1937[2]), was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979 until April 9, 2003, when he was deposed during the United States-led invasion of Iraq. ... There are many types of defensive fighting positions (DFPs), more commonly known in U.S. military slang as foxholes. ... Looking north along the Tigris towards Saddams Presidential palace in April 2003 Tikrit (ØªÙƒØ±ÙŠØª, also transliterated as Takrit or Tekrit) is a town in Iraq, located 140 km northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris river (at 34. ... Lt. ... An intelligence agency is a governmental organization devoted to gathering of information by means of espionage (spying), communication interception, cryptoanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. ... A journalist is a person who practices journalism. ...

In the midst of rising tensions and civil unrest within Iraq, the CPA leadership decided to disband the CPA three days ahead of schedule, and transferred power to the newly appointed Iraqi Interim Government at 10:26 AM local time on June 28, 2004. In order to ensure his own personal safety, L. Paul Bremer left Iraq that same day. The Iraqi Interim matt chokes on cock Government was created by the United States and its coalition allies as a caretaker government to govern Iraq until the Iraqi Transitional Government was installed following the Iraqi National Assembly election conducted on January 30th, 2005. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Member nations

A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ethiopia. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Afghanistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Azerbaijan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kazakhstan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mongolia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uzbekistan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighbouring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Albania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Estonia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macedonia. ... Anthem: Transliteration: English: Capital Skopje Largest city Skopje Macedonian, Albanian1 Government Parliamentary republic - President Branko Crvenkovski - Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski Independence from Yugoslavia - Declared September 8, 1991 Area - Total 25,333 kmÂ² (148th) 9,779 sq mi - Water (%) 1. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_El_Salvador. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ...

Structure of the CPA

The CPA was divided into three geographic regions. CPA North was headquartered in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, CPA Central was headquartered in Baghdad at Saddam's former Republican Palace, and CPA South was headquartered in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Each region operated semi-autonomously, and all three had the same common goals for reconstruction of the country. Throughout the existence of the CPA, the security situation and levels of civil unrest throughout the country varied by region, and these variances were reflected in the different levels of program successes within the CPA divisions. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Front View Rear View Closeup of Furniture Inside the Grand Dining Hall ... Location of Basra Basra (also spelled BaÅŸrah or Basara; historically sometimes written Busra, Busrah, and the early form Bassorah; Arabic: , Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of c. ... Civil disorder is a broad term that is typically used by law enforcement to describe one or more forms of disturbance. ...

Non-government organizations and private charities and the CPA

Role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB)

United Nations resolution 1483 transferred the authority to authorize expenditures from Iraq's oil revenue from the United Nations to the Coalition Provisional Authority -- under certain conditions, including: The International Advisory and Monitoring Board was appointed to oversee the Coalition Provisional Authoritys disbursements from the humanitarian Development Fund for Iraq. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... A United Nations resolution (or UN resolution) is a decision of a United Nations (UN) bodies. ...

The International Advisory and Monitoring Board consisted of senior financial experts from the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that oversees the global financial system by observing exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering financial and technical assistance when requested. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means...

The IAMB had serious concerns over the CPA's lack of transparency and lack of adequate financial controls, which were never resolved. The IAMB still exists and is playing a role in the investigations into the CPA's Financial management.

The CPA's Program Review Board (PRB)

The Program Review Board was an eleven member board that consisted of ten staff members from the CPA and one member of the Iraqi Governing Council. The chair of the Board was also the CPA's Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Finance. The Coalition Provisional Authority Program Review Board was a Board composed of the senior personnel of the Coalition Provisional Authority, charged with the responsibility to review and make recommendations about the awarding of contracts to the Administrator of the CPA, Paul Bremer. ...

It was the Board's responsibility to review and make recommendations to the CPA Administrator on which contracts should be awarded. In order to ensure transparency, all of the key discussions regarding the pros and cons of the programs under consideration were to be made public. The CPA Administrator was only supposed to make decisions on the awarding of contracts after receiving a recommendation from this committee.

The Notes on Internal Control from KPMG's audit of DFI expenditures was particularly critical of PRB recording keeping failing to fulfill the CPA's transparency obligation. In particular: KPMG is one of the largest professional services firms in the world. ...

Privatization of Iraq's economy

See Privatization for a more detailed discussion of arguments for and against privatization. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Prior to US occupation, Iraq had had a centrally planned economy. Among other things, it prohibited foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses, ran most large industries as state-owned enterprises, and imposed large tariffs to keep out foreign goods.[3] The CPA issued many binding orders privatizing Iraq's economy and opening it up to foreign investment. CPA Order 39, entitled "Foreign Investment," provided that "A foreign investor shall be entitled to make foreign investments in Iraq on terms no less favorable than those applicable to an Iraqi investor," and that "[t]he amount of foreign participation in newly formed or existing business entities in Iraq shall not be limited...." Additionally, the foreign investor "shall be authorized to...transfer abroad without delay all funds associated with its foreign investment, including shares or profits and dividends..." A planned economy is an economic system in which economic decisions are made by centralized planners, who determine what sorts of goods and services to produce, and how they are to be priced and allocated. ... A tariff is a tax on imported goods. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Dividends are payments made by a company to its shareholders. ...

By this order, critics assert that the CPA drastically altered Iraq's economy, allowing virtually unlimited and unrestricted foreign investment and placing no limitations on the expatriation of profit. However, these policies accord with current international standards on foreign direct investment which most of the developed world adheres to [4] [5]. The order concluded, "Where an international agreement to which Iraq is a party provides for more favorable terms with respect to foreign investors undertaking investment activities in Iraq, the more favorable terms under the international agreement shall apply." [6] According to critics, this order was designed to create as favorable an environment for foreign investors as possible, thereby allowing American and multinational corporations to dominate Iraq's economy. Critics further contend that the controversial policies are fundamentally anti-democratic in that it is not for the United States or any other country or coalition of countries to determine what trade laws Iraqis must live by, and that such rules can only be legitimate if passed initially by an elected Iraqi government free of foreign occupation and domination. [7] Other's argue that the rules merely bring Iraq's economic law into conformity with modern norms of international trade, that the CPA should not be under any obligation to run Iraq as a totalitarian state simply because that's what its laws were like before the occupationm, and that the previous government and its laws were not democratically legitimate since Saddam Hussein's government was not elected either. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the movement of capital across national frontiers in a manner that grants the investor control over the acquired asset. ... Single European Act A treaty is a binding agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely states and international organizations. ...

CPA Order 17 granted all foreign contractors operating in Iraq immunity from "Iraqi legal process," effectively granting immunity from any kind of suit, civil or criminal, for actions the contractors engaged in within Iraq. [8] CPA Order 49 provided a tax cut for corporations operating within Iraq. It reduced the rate from a maximum of 40% to a maximum of 15% on income. Corporations working with the CPA were exempted from owing any tax. [9] CPA Order 12, amended by Order 54, suspended all tariffs, thus removing the advantage that domestic Iraqi producers had over foreign producers. [10] [11]. However, a 5% "reconstruction levy" on all imported goods was later reimposed to help finance Iraqi-initiated reconstruction projects. [12] Immunity confers a status ojavascript:insertTags(Ã¬,,)n a person or body that makes that person or body free from otherwise legal obligations such as, for example, lijavascript:insertTags(Ãš,,)ability for damages or punishment for criminal acts. ... Service of process is the term given to a court or administrative bodys exercise of its jurisdiction over individuals who are the subject of proceedings or actions bought before such court, body or other tribunal. ...

CPA Order 57 provided for the appointment of "Inspectors General" to operate within each Iraqi government ministry, for the purposes of rooting out corruption. These Inspectors General were to be "appointed to a 5-year term by the Administrator [Paul Bremer]," and were given sweeping powers "to conduct investigations, audits, evaluations, inspections, and other reviews...." [13] Critics contend this is a mechanism for ensuring continuing American influence in Iraqi governance even after the transfer of all sovereignty to the country. Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ...

Critics of the CPA argue that these policies were not only rather blatant attempts to shape Iraq's economy in the interests of American (and other) investors and against the interests of Iraqis themselves, but also that they were illegal under international law, because an occupying power is prohibited from rewriting the laws of the occupied country. International law (also called public international law to distinguish from private international law, i. ...

Others reply that the privatization of Iraq's economy is necessary to help it rebuild after years of state mismanagement and centrally planned economics, and that market economics does not conflict with the interests of Iraqis or provide undo advantage to American or foreign investors versus Iraqi investors. In addition, if the changes to Iraq's economic laws were illegal, than so would be the Transitional Administrative Law, which serves as Iraq's constitution under the Transitional Government. The Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period is the current Iraqi constitution signed on March 8, 2004 by the Iraq Interim Governing Council. ... This article needs to be updated. ...

Criticism of financial management

In May of 2003 the CPA took over the responsibility for administering the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). Established from the earlier UN oil-for-food program, the CPA was authorized to manage the DFI, which took in approximately $20 billion in the year after the invasion. The CPA also administered 18.4 billion dollars which the U.S. Congress allocated for Iraqi reconstruction in November 2003, known as the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF). On May of 2003, following the Invasion of Iraq the Development Fund for Iraq was set up. ... A congress is a gathering of people, especially a gathering for a political purpose. ... The Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF) was established by the US congress in late 2003. ...

By June of 2004, the CPA had spent, or allocated, 19.1 billion dollars of the DFI funds -- while spending only 400 million dollars from the IRRF. Critics suggest that Bremer selectively spent from the DFI because it was more free from accounting oversight by the GAO. Gao is a city in Mali on the River Niger with a population of about 38,000 people. ...

However, others contend that the IRRF was not intended to finance the Iraqi government ministries or the Public Distribution System (state food rations from the Oil-for-food program), as the DFI did. The $18.4 billion dollars authorized by the U.S. congress was intended to finance large reconstruction projects such as power and sewage plants, not to provide the day-to-day operating expenses of the Iraqi government. These projects were then in their planning and early site preparation stages so it is not surprising that little money had been disbursed at that point, or that much of the Development Fund for Iraq, which remains virtually the only source of revenue for the Iraqi government[14], had. On May of 2003, following the Invasion of Iraq the Development Fund for Iraq was set up. ...

Audits of the CPA's expenditures of Iraqi funds

When authority to manage the revenue from Iraq's oil on behalf of the Iraqi people through United Nations resolution 1483, that authority was transferred under certain conditions. A United Nations resolution (or UN resolution) is a decision of a United Nations (UN) bodies. ...

The IAMB tried to insist on certain financial controls, with limited success. The International Advisory and Monitoring Board was appointed to oversee the Coalition Provisional Authoritys disbursements from the humanitarian Development Fund for Iraq. ...

With input from the IAMB accounting firm KPMG was appointed to audit the CPA's expenditures from the DFI. KPMG's audit notes (.pdf) of July 15, 2004 include over a dozen causes for concern. KPMG is one of the largest professional services firms in the world. ... International auditors KPMG were chosen by the Coalition Provisional Authority and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board to perform external audits of the Coalitions expenditures from the humanitarian Development Fund for Iraq. ...

On June 20, 2005 the staff of the Committee on Government Reform prepared a report for Congressman Henry Waxman on the CPA's expenditures from the DFI that raised additional causes for concern [15]. Henry Waxman Henry Arnold Waxman (born September 12, 1939) is an American politician. ...

Staffing policies

CPA chief Paul Bremer replied to criticisms of the CPA by pleading that he was burdened by an inexperienced staff, with a high turnover. However, critics of Ambassador Bremer would suggest that he bore the responsibility for setting the CPA's hiring practices, and those hiring practices give the appearance of being highly partisan. All staff were vetted for loyalty by Jim O'Beirne (husband of Kate O'Beirne). Candidates reported being asked about who they voted for for president, whether they believed in capital punishment, their religious background, and even their views on Roe v. Wade[16][17]. Kate OBeirne is the Washington editor of National Review. ... Holding Texas laws criminalizing abortion violated womens Fourteenth Amendment right to choose whether to continue a pregnancy. ...

The PBS program "The Lost Year in Iraq" included this quote from a former counterinsurgency advisor at the CPA: The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with 349 member TV stations in the United States, with some member stations available by cable in Canada. ...

In a Washington Post profile of CPA staff quotes a Pentagon spokesman: ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... A spokesperson (person could be replaced with the gender of the person), or spokesmodel is a person who speaks on behalf of others, but is understood not to be necessarily part of the others (e. ...

While the CPA staff did include some young and inexperienced staff[19], and some staff referred through the Heritage foundation, the vast majority of staff were highly experienced professionals and unassociated with the Heritage Foundation or any other political think tank.

Simone Ledeen and Michael Fleischer

New York Time's Paul Krugman, who is also a professor of Economics and International Affairs has criticized the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) as turning Iraq into "a playground for right-wing economic theorists, an employment agency for friends and family, and a source of lucrative contracts for corporate donors". To prove his point, Paul Krugman mentioned in a June 29, 2004 article the appointments of Simone Ledeen and Michael Fleischer to CPA. Michael Fleischer is a United States businessman from the state of New Jersey and on March 13, 2004 was appointed to the post of Director of Private Sector Development for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. ...

Washington Monthly also had a Special Baghdad edition in December 2003, criticizing the CPA: Michael Ledeen (born August 1, 1941) is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. ... Neoconservatism describes several distinct political ideologies which are considered new forms of conservatism. ... Michael Fleischer is a United States businessman from the state of New Jersey and on March 13, 2004 was appointed to the post of Director of Private Sector Development for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. ... Ari Fleischer conducts a White House press conference Lawrence Ari Fleischer (born October 13, 1960) was the press secretary for U.S. President George W. Bush from January 2001 to July 2003. ... The Washington Monthly is a magazine based in Washington DC which covers American politics and government. ...

In response to Paul Krugman's criticism, former White House staffer Mona Charen defended Simone Ledeen's appointment: Mona Charen is a nationally syndicated columnist, political analyst, and the best-selling author of two books, Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First (2003) and Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help â€” and the Rest of Us...

Reconstruction

See Reconstruction of Iraq for a more detailed discussion of Iraq reconstruction efforts. This April 2005 does not cite its references or sources. ...

Although the CPA awarded contracts for essential reconstruction to American firms, some critics claim those firms did relatively little work. Bechtel, for instance, was awarded the contract to repair the Iraqi sewage and drinking water plants. Yet today many Iraqis remain without safe drinking water or adequate supplies of electricity.^{[citation needed]} Coalition military forces were too heavily tasked to provide requisite security for all contractors in Iraq. Contract funds therefore had to be partially shifted from reconstruction activities to meet security requirements that had not been envisioned when the contracts were initially let. Moreover, progress in reconstruction frequently faced setbacks due to insurgency activities designed to disrupt rebuilding of the infrastructure. This insurgent activity significantly slowed reconstruction and required adjustment of project goals due to funds consumed by providing necessary security in excess of that originally planned. Bechtel Corporation (Bechtel Group) is the largest civil engineering company in the world. ... Sewage is the liquid water produced by human society which typically contains washing water, laundry waste, faeces, urine and other liquid or semi-liquid wastes. ...

According to USAID, as of October 2003, peak electrical generation had reached pre-war levels of 4,500 MW, and they were then collaborating with Bechtel as well as the Iraqi Interior Ministry and others on some 2,000 MW of projected capacity. The CPA set a goal of 6,000 MW generation capacity for the summer of 2004, which has never been reached. Peak generation capacity of 5,365 MW was achieved in August 2004, six weeks after the transfer of sovereignty. Current generation stands at approximately 5,000 MW. Contracting work involving Bechtel projects is ongoing [24].

A recent update on Iraq's electricity sector may be found here: http://www.export.gov/iraq/pdf/electrical.pdf

Contents

History of the CPA

Member nations

Structure of the CPA

Non-government organizations and private charities and the CPA

Role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB)

The CPA's Program Review Board (PRB)

Privatization of Iraq's economy

Criticism of financial management

Audits of the CPA's expenditures of Iraqi funds

Staffing policies

Simone Ledeen and Michael Fleischer

Reconstruction

See also

External links

Contents

History of the CPA GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Member nations

Structure of the CPA

Non-government organizations and private charities and the CPA

Role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB)

The CPA's Program Review Board (PRB)

Privatization of Iraq's economy

Criticism of financial management

Audits of the CPA's expenditures of Iraqi funds

Staffing policies

Simone Ledeen and Michael Fleischer

Reconstruction

See also

External links

History of the CPA