Faced With Iraqi Opposition, U.S. Rebuilds

U.S. Hopes Public Works Projects In Sadr City Will Strengthen Relationship, Despite Anti-American Protest

(CBS/AP)  U.S. forces fought their way into anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's home turf last spring. But when the fighting died down, this became a political battle and the Americans insist they've been on the offensive, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Joyce.

The weapon of choice - badly needed public works projects.

First Lieutenant Shawn McKinney is an engineer with Task Force Gold which is rebuilding the Southern end of Sadr City. He took CBS News on a tour of his projects.

"Everything is going to be repaved, the sewer's going to be cleaned out as part of the project," said McKinney. "Manholes raised along with the new road. A lot of work."

And that will make a big difference. On hot days in Sadr City now, children swim in filthy water right next to ponds filled with raw sewage.

Getting those kids into decent classrooms is another project.

McKinney works closely with Iraqi contractors on school renovations, which creates jobs for local workers and will hopefully build support in the community.

U.S. officials insist the Iraqis are starting to spend their own money on projects here and in the northern part of Sadr City where a ceasefire agreement prevents Americans from operating. They're in a hurry to get things done while the ceasefire with Sadr's militia holds.

"One of the intents of the work that we do is to show that in the areas that we are, by working with us, by being part of the government, by being part of the solution, good things happen, things get better," said McKinney.

Off camera, U.S. soldiers told CBS News they were surprised that Moqtada al Sadr didn't launch an aggressive social welfare program of his own. They hope they can hold onto that advantage in the months ahead as the political battle for Sadr City intensifies.

Protest Against Security Pact Draws Thousands

On Saturday, al-Sadr urged Iraq's parliament to reject a pact that would extend U.S. presence in Iraq for three years as tens of thousands of his followers marched through Baghdad's streets Saturday to reinforce that demand.

The large turnout points to trouble ahead for the U.S.-Iraqi security deal as Sunni and Shiite lawmakers weigh the political risks associated with the far-reaching agreement.

Waving Iraqi flags and green Shiite banners, protesters chanted slogans condemning the pact. The demonstration in the mostly Shiite eastern part of Baghdad was staged under tight security, with soldiers and police manning checkpoints along the route.

"I am with every Sunni, Shiite or Christian who is opposed to the agreement ... and I reject, condemn and renounce the presence of occupying forces and bases on our beloved land," al-Sadr said in a message read to the crowd by a senior aide.

The pact, reached after months of bitter negotiations, governs the presence in Iraq of U.S. troops after their U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31. As copies of the draft became available this week, it sparked an intense public debate among top politicians.

A copy of the draft accord obtained by The Associated Press specifies U.S. troops must leave Iraqi cities by the end of June and be gone by 2012. It gives Iraq limited authority over off-duty, off-base U.S. soldiers who commit crimes. U.S. Congressional approval is not required for the pact to take effect, but the Bush administration is trying to build maximum political support anyway.

In Iraq, the pact must be ratified by the 275-seat parliament - riven by the narrow partisan interests, sectarian and ethnic divisions that have defined Iraqi politics since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein.

[irmcvet97]

If you don''''t like American democracy, why not go back to Mejico?

Posted by shyam8 at 12:08 PM : Oct 19, 2008

What''s wrong with you? Didn''t they TEACH American History to you folks before the 6th grade? WE the PEOPLE are supposed to TRY with each new generation to make it better... You do know they have Night Classes at MOST High Schools in Basic History and Reading. TAKE ONE OF THEM!! Good Grief!!

[irmcvet97]

The soup lines in your head or real ones?

Posted by hillaryin012 at 07:07 AM : Oct 19, 2008

Why don''t you go down and see for yourself Sparky... Oh drive a NORMAL Car, the Limo will most certainly get you in a World of Trouble.

[irmcvet97]

During the Vietnam War. President Johnson''''s wife had a bridge building company. Our troops would blow up the bridges for no reason at all, and she had the contract to rebuild them. Oh yeah, Johnson was a Democrat!

Posted by hunterdon6 at 10:09 AM : Oct 19, 2008

As a Vietnam Vet I find you and your post to be absolutely disgusting! What makes me so sad is that we didn''t learn anything from Vietnam, or at least Bush and Cheney didn''t. Course how could they? Cheney was dodging the draft with deferments and Bush was under a bar somewhere drying out.

[shyam8]

ramos937

If you don''t like American democracy, why not go back to Mejico?

[shyam8]

We should leave Iraq to Moqtada Al-Sadr but not until we cut his nuts.

[ramos937]

This is insane. We are spending billions to rebuild Iraq while we hold billions in safe keeping for them so they will not spend their increasing surpluses? As show in the article and elsewhere, the Iraq people want us out of their country and show little, if any, gratitude for our efforts. And McCain wants to keep us there permanently and will if he is elected. If we do not stop this madness on 11/04/2008, we deserve what we get.

[trillion1]

America''s infrastructure is falling apart and we''re suppose to be happy their rebuilding Iraqs?

[hunterdon6]

During the Vietnam War. President Johnson''s wife had a bridge building company. Our troops would blow up the bridges for no reason at all, and she had the contract to rebuild them. Oh yeah, Johnson was a Democrat!

[impeach__w]

Where do Americans Protest? The place was a sewer before we got there. Send W over there to clean those sewers out. Our guys are still fighting and he''s retiring from this mess he POTUS- I mean got us in.

[wherenextnow]

Posted by hillaryin012 at 07:07 AM : Oct 19, 2008
-------

How''s the Republican Socialist $700 Bailout coming? Has McBush rushed back to Washington to beg for more bailout money?

HAHAHAHAHA!!

[andrew_693]

this is one of those end of the year republican deals: "I invade your country, steal your oil and kill your family and let me build you a 30$ toilet that will theoretically cost the american people 5,030$ on paper. The 5,000 $ profit will be used in a spa vacation for me and a couple of whors. If they don''t want a toilet we will call air support or some of our high school dropouts to make sure they destroy something to rebuild and make me rich." that''s what the iraq war is about..

[formrusmcsgt]

The large turnout points to trouble ahead for the U.S.-Iraqi security deal as Sunni and Shiite lawmakers weigh the political risks associated with the far-reaching agreement.
---

I suggest they study Vichy France.

[babooph]

Building PUBLIC works with US taxpayer funds in Iraq is nation building -in the States it is "SOCIALISM "-the US propaganda system has brainwashed the nation.

[yongamerica]

"They''re in a hurry to get things done while the ceasefire with Sadr''s militia holds."

That''s really Iran''s militia, Sadr relinquished control of the militia to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards who has been training and outfitting them for some time. Currently they are fielding sniper and assassination squads to mold Iraq''s political balance in their favor.

[nothappyatall]

"Everything is going to be repaved, the sewer''s going to be cleaned out as part of the project," said McKinney. "Manholes raised along with the new road. A lot of work."

Oh how NICE, while OUR roads and bridges collapse and schools go to hel1, we spend more on IRAQ and THEIR roads and bridges!

[simplemind2]

"the crowd chanted "Occupier, get out," and "No, no to America. No, no to the agreement.""

As GWB would call it - "What crowd? They are nothing but die-hard al Qaeda supporters".
3 Billions (3,000,000,000.00) US tax-payers'' hard-earned money per week authorized by GWB - the "Sole Decider" - spent in Iraq.
GWB - MAN of hindsight 20/20.
Coming November vote for McCain - a.k.a. The Old-Man and his WINK WINK partner.
So that GWB''s Third Term legacy can continue forever!

[targaray-2009]

So The Story Goes...

"Lil Johnny McSame" said "We will be greeted as liberators;" then Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld came up with a cockamamie plan to occupy another country (kinda like Russia did); then All Heck Broke Loss; then Lil Johnny McSame said "surge, baby, surge;" then our brave soilders rose to the challenge; then the occupied country said "thanks, but we got this, you can leave now;'' then Lil Johnny & Bush said "but wait we''re trying to win a third term, just play along with us for a while;" then Today Happened...

[shyam8]

Moqtada Al-Sadr just can''t wait. He wants to be the boss. Americans are getting in their way. We should cut his nuts (what do you think Jesse) before leaving Iraq. What will happen to his 50 wives?

[royalia]

RE: And it has never been about oil. We had that problem fixed the first time we went over when George Sr. was running the show, or did you forget. We had Kuwait, who has more oil than Iraq, and could have turned that into our private reserve.

If it wasn''t about oil then what was it about? Bush, Cheney, and Rice all have oil connections. What were the secret meetings about with Cheney and energy executives? Big American oil companies just got some no bid contracts in Iraq. Coincidence? And, by the way, you are wrong about Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq has more proved oil reserves than Kuwait. You are high if you think it had nothing to do with oil.

[samthetvcat]

---"No, No to America," shouted one man, wearing a white Islamic robe as he sat in a wheelchair and clutched a poster of the Iraqi flag. "We prefer death to giving concessions."---

It seems like Iraqis figured that since in the face of violence the military chose to ''surge'' rather than retreat, they could get more troops out by playing nice. What worries me is that once some troops are out, if there''s a stall, isn''t there also the possibility that they''ll recalculate and then decide that under the changed circumstances an opposite tactic might be called for (like that playing nice is no longer as effective as taking on troops)?

Like Barack may be able to pacify them for a while by saying these things take time, that he''s really looking out for their best interests blah blah blah - what do you think he''d do if the violence started to escalate and troop casualties started to rise again and our troop levels are only half what they used to be and the troops are vulnerable. He''s not going to escalate back into Iraq, is he? So then is he going to escalate a withdrawal?

I worry that sometimes he doesn''t plan for the worst because he always assumes the best of people, and I worry about what''s going to happen to the Iraqi people if we''re not in total control of the circumstances of our leaving - like I want to see us get out of Iraq as much as the next person, I''m just worried about the process :(