Surge Affecting More Than Security in Baghdad: Electricity Supply

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070604-05


CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq –Providing power to Baghdad residents remains a priority, as witnessed by the 62 projects accounting for more than a quarter of the civil military operations funds dedicated this year – more than $44 million. The challenge to get the lights on throughout the Iraqi capital remains a priority for the Multi-National Division - Baghdad.

“There is a perception that I’ve seen in every sector of this region we haveresponsibility for, when I talk to the Iraqis, that the Americans have the ability to put a man on the moon, and yet they can’t provide us with electricity,” said Brig.Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, the deputy commanding general for support withMND-B. “That whole idea of an expectation that we promised and haven’t delivered causes a great deal of problems.”

Intermittent electrical supply is not a new problem for the city’s population, Baghdad has never had electricity flowing to its six million residents 24 hours a day. Electricity, or the lack thereof, was a tool used by the Ba’athist regime to reward or punish the population.

“You saw areas favored by Saddam and his regime see power longer throughout the day, but they still didn’t get power 24/7,” said Lt. Col. John Rudolph, the assistant chief of staff of civil military operations for Multi-NationalDivision – Baghdad.

“They still had to use what they called the ‘generator men,’who were entrepreneurs who had their own generators and supplied power to local neighborhoods for the ‘off power’ periods, even during Saddam’s period.”

Read the Rest...