WASHINGTON Ñ U.S. officials are already preparing for a mine-clearing
operation and other humanitarian projects to follow the overthow of the Saddam Hussein regime.
U.S. officials said the Bush administration plans to announce a tender
for a range of projects in Iraq meant to deal with a post-war era. The State Dept. denied the programs were tied to plans for a military offensive against Iraq.
On July 10, the State Department announced in the Federal Register an
open competition for proposals for humanitarian-assistance projects in Iraq
and for Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries for a range of health care,
housing and educational programs.
One of the programs is meant to educate Iraqis regarding the dangers of
land mines as well as ways to eliminate them, Middle East Newsline reported. The announcement of the
program, which would include central Iraq, was made by the State
Department's Office of Northern Gulf Affairs, part of the Bureau of Near
East Affairs.
The administration plans to allocate $6.6 million for the programs. The
tender was closed on Aug. 1.
"It's intended to provide relief and access to basic life-sustaining
resources for Iraqis and Iraqi refugees," State Department deputy spokesman
Philip Reeker said.
Reeker denied any link between the Iraqi assistance programs and threats
by the Bush administration to topple the Saddam regime. He said the funds
were part of budgetary allocation for Iraqi opposition activities for fiscal
2001. Congress had allocated $12 million Iraqi for humanitarian relief.
The administration intends to release $8 million for the Iraqi National
Congress, meant to finance the umbrella opposition group until the end of
the year as well as establish a newspaper and television station and
training. The money was suspended amid a State Department
investigation of INC finances.
Officials said the INC and six other opposition groups would also
receive defense material. They would not elaborate.
"We anticipate finalizing an agreement very soon," Reeker said. "You
have to actually see the process through, but that's moving ahead."
