BAGHDAD — Local governments in rural areas of Iraq face daunting challenges to govern amid
the Sunni insurgency.
U.S. officials said that despite the expansion of the military and
security forces many towns and villages in Iraq remained unable to govern.
They said community leaders have been blocked by Al Qaida and the Sunni
insurgency, Middle East Newsline reported.
"While the councils are meeting consistently, they still struggle to get
everyone to the meetings and to communicate with higher councils in Baghdad
due to security concerns," Col. Jeffrey Snow said.
Snow, commander of the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, based in
Baghdad, said efforts to improve the administration of Iraqi local councils
remain difficult. He said Iraq has achieved a level of security in major
cities that facilitated governance.
The failure to impose control over rural areas has prevented Iraq to
develop numerous towns and villages. Officials said the Iraqi military has
not deployed in these towns because of poor security.
"As far as local councils are concerned, we're making progress, but it's
uneven progress," Snow told a Pentagon briefing on June 30. "In urban areas,
the security level facilitates the execution of local governments. In the
rural areas, we're having a harder time."
