To: National Desk

Contact: Howie Lind of the Iraq Project and Contracting Office, 703-696-1423

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Coalition Forces and the Government of Iraq have joined together to establish a common operational picture of reconstruction efforts in Baghdad, as part of the Baghdad Security Plan.

Operation Together Forward, an Iraqi planned and led operation, strives to improve security in Baghdad by focusing on "clear, hold, build" efforts -- clearing targeted neighborhoods of violence, holding the neighborhoods, and building essential services projects to gain an immediate and sustained affect on Iraqis living in the neighborhoods.

In order to unify efforts and make the most impact, the Joint Reconstruction Operations Center was created to coordinate and synchronize Baghdad reconstruction efforts. The center consists of representatives from Multi-National Forces-Iraq, Multi- National Corps-Iraq, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, the U.S. Department of State, the Provincial Reconstruction Team-Baghdad, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Iraq and the U.S. Corps of Engineers-Gulf Region Division.

Each organization feeds its data into one source to form a common operational picture. The center then presents a unified voice to the Joint Planning Commission, which maps out essential service projects to be undertaken in each of the targeted areas.

"The common operational picture gives us outstanding situational awareness of reconstruction efforts in support of the 'build' phase of Operation Together Forward," said Lt. Col. Reinhard Koenig, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "Reconstruction is critical to ensuring the success of the Baghdad Security Plan."

A broad range of essential service projects are identified in the five Baghdad neighborhoods of Doura, Bayaa, Mansour, Kadamiyah, Adamiyah. As of Oct. 22, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified 105 projects in the sectors of sewer, water and electricity at a construction cost of $35 million; 34 projects are completed at a construction cost of $5 million.

"The more we strengthen the infrastructure, the more we weaken the insurgency and give the Iraqi citizens a reason for hope in the Government of Iraq," Koenig said.

As of Oct 14, the Department of Defense has 3,566 total planned projects representing a construction cost of $7.22B in areas of security and justice; public works and water; oil; buildings, health and education; transportation and communications; and electricity.

-- 648 projects are under construction at a construction cost of $2.58B.

-- 2,597 projects are completed at a construction cost of $3.49B.

-- 3,245 projects are started at a construction cost of $6.07B.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

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