Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III - My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope

Since the events described in this book, there have been significant developments in Iraqs struggle to build a new nation with a future of hope.

Defying terrorists and pundits alike, Iraqis by the millions voted in the countrys first truly democratic elections in January 2005. Who can forget the moving image of thousands of Iraqi men and women waving their purple-stained fingers in pride? Nothing could better illustrate the thirst for self-government felt by the vast majority of the Iraqi people. Fully 31 percent of the deputies elected were women, one of the highest percentages in the world (and twice that in the U.S. Congress).

The terrorists and other antidemocratic forces recognize the threat to them posed by self-governing Iraqi citizens. And so they have stepped up their attacks on the very people they seek to rule. The terrorists will not succeed because the Iraqi people and their allies will not allow it.

Recently, voices have been heard in America calling for the withdrawl of our forces or for setting a clear deadline for their return to the U.S. This would be an historic mistake, only serving to encourage the terrorists to wait us out before renewing their attacks. It would signal a defeat for Americas interests, not just in Iraq, but in the wider region. Terrorists everywhere would take heart.

What is at stake is far more than Iraqs future, for the elections in early 2005 stirred democratic winds throughout the region. It is in Americas interest to fan those winds because responsible self-government is the best long-term antidote to the hatred and warped vision of the terrorists.

President Bush, addressing the United Nations in September, put the case very clearly, Either hope will spread or violence will spread, and we must take the side of hope.

Finally, a personal message to the men and women of Americas armed forces: During my time in Iraq, I was constantly impressed by your courage and steadfast dedication. You liberated Iraq from Saddams tyranny and then helped the Iraqi people reclaim their country, whether by fighting the insurgents and terrorists or by rebuilding schools and orphanages. You, and Iraqis of all sects and ethnic backgrounds, have paid a very high price in this fight. Hard as the job has been, you can take comfort in knowing that you have done a noble thing.

But there is no quick, easy path to renewing a society like Iraqs, recovering from decades of brutality. We must honor your sacrifices by showing the patience and determination to finish the job.

It is difficult, writing a book, to know where to begin to thank the people without whose help it would not have been possible.

I suppose the best place is to begin at the beginning and to thank my wonderful agent, Marvin Josephson. It was he, on a visit to Baghdad, who first suggested that I write this book. So readers disappointed that I have followed his advice should take their grievance to Marvin.

To me, however, Marvin was a gift. I thank him for his help identifying a publisher and willingness to give sound advice on the book as the writing proceeded. And I am further indebted to him for suggesting that I engage Malcolm McConnell as my collaborator on the project.

My sincere thanks to Malcolm for his extraordinary energy and insight. He came to the project with the perfect backgroundformer diplomat, experienced author, and sensible man. Malcolm is an excellent writer and has become a good friend. He also brought to bear his secret weapon, his wife, Carol. She somehow succeeded at the near-hopeless task of keeping us organized.

Alice Mayhew lived up to her reputation as one of the countrys best and most experienced editors. I am deeply grateful for her constructive and thoughtful comments on the structure and content of the book. She also mobilized the considerable resources of the publisher, Simon & Schuster. I particularly want to thank Tom Pitoniak for his perceptive copyediting and Serena Jones for her indefatigable support.

The story told here would not have been possible without the heroic men and women of the American armed forces and my former colleagues in the Coalition Provisional Authority.

These civilians, all of them volunteers, served in a stressful and dangerous environment, working 1820 hours a day to help the Iraqi people reclaim their country. It was the most extraordinary group of dedicated individuals I have ever worked with. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

I note with great sadness that my close friend and invaluable counselor, Hume Horan, died before this book was published.

My special thanks to former colleagues who helped me with the research on this book and who gavesometimes rather freelytheir advice on how to improve it. Wherever I have fallen short of their high standards, I myself am to blame.

Thanks to you: Muean Aljabiry, Rodney Bent, Scott Carpenter, Scott Castle, Christina Estrada, Mounzer Fatfat, Matt Fuller, Peter Gibson, Bob Gifford, David Gompert, Tom Foley, Reuben Jeffery, Dick Jones, Roman Martinez, Brian McCormack, Don Hamilton, Clay McManaway, Peter McPherson, Scotty Norwood, David Oliver, Meghan OSullivan, Chris Ross, Ed Schmults, Dan Senor, Walt Slocombe, Gene Stakhiv, Hugh Tant, Gary Vogler, and Alex Zemak. Your contributions to this story, both before and after we left Iraq, were remarkable.

A very special thanks to my long-time colleague and friend Sue Shea. Following an unfathomable calling, she came to Baghdad on a moments notice to work for meyet again. Somehow, through the tensions and chaos of life there, she brought a measure of calm and organization.

My thanks to my children and their spouses. They set aside misgivings they might have had about the dangers inherent to my mission and showed me, in a hundred ways over the fourteen months, how love can conquer distance.

Finally, to Francie: wife of thirty-nine years, loving mother of our children, experienced author, wise counselor, and love of my life. Her steadfast courage throughout the long months of this story was just the latest example of her strength and faith. God bless you, Francie!

Abdullah II, King of Jordan

Abizaid, John

Allawis meeting with

Bremers meeting with, (Nov. 7, 2003)

Bremers phone calls with

Fallujah crisis and

at G-7 meeting

Muqtada rebellion and

at NSC meetings

police training and

Saddams capture and

in teleconferences

troop withdrawals and

Abu Ghraib Prison

abuse scandal and

Abu Hatem

see also Muhammadawi, Abdul Karim al-

Ad-Dwar

Adnan, Ali

Afghanistan

Bremer in

Iraqi constitution and

UN special representative to

Air Force, U.S.

Al-Anbar Province

see also Fallujah

Al-Hillah

mass graves in

Muqtada rebellion in

textile factory in

Ali, Imam Hussein ibn

shrine of

Ali bin Hussein, Sharif

Aljabiry, Muean

Al-Jazeera

Fallujah crisis and

Alkadiri, Raad

Al-Kut

Allawi, Ali

Allawi, Ayad

as defense minister candidate

early transfer of sovereignty and

as GC president

interim government presented by

as prime minister

as prime minister candidate

Al-Qaeda

Amara

Anaconda strategy

Anbaky, Nazar al-

Anfal operation

Annan, Kofi

Arbaeen holiday

Armitage, Rich

Army, Iraqi see Iraqi Army

Army, U.S.

Fallujah shootdown and

Iraqi police training and

troop rotation and

see also specific units

Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.

Ashura attacks

Assad, Bashar

Assad, Hafiz

Assyrian Christians

Australia

Awadi, Rassim al-