Iraq

Secretary Powell (November 29): "[W]e talked about the commitment that we all have to help the Iraqis have their election on the 30th of January as scheduled.... We're encouraging all parties to participate in the political process, especially in the Sunni heartland. And an election is the way forward. It's the means by which the Iraqi people can say to the world, we want to live in democracy." [more]

Secretary Powell (November 23): "At this conference, the Ministerial Conference on Iraq, Iraq's neighbors and the international community have come together to support enhanced stability, faster economic reconstruction in Iraq, and to support free and fair elections in Iraq at the end of January 2005." [more; see additional remarks from trip]   

Fact sheet: "Iraqis, with help from the Coalition and many partners, are rebuilding their country and offering freedom, new opportunities and much needed services to their people. Security problems remain a major challenge for the Iraqi people and for development in various parts of the country. Nevertheless, real progress has been made in many key areas." [more]  

President Bush: "Chief weapons inspector Charles Duelfer has now issued a comprehensive report that confirms the earlier conclusion of David Kay that Iraq did not have the weapons that our intelligence believed were there. The Duelfer report also raises important new information about Saddam Hussein's defiance of the world and his intent and capability to develop weapons." [more]

Section 2207 report to Congress provides a quarterly update on the use of Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds. The funding aims to improve security, increase Iraqi employment, and support the democratic transition in Iraq.

--Visit the U.S. Embassy Web site.
--The Commerce Department has created a task force to help U.S. companies participate in the economic rebuilding of Iraq.
--Information on U.S. Government Iraq reconstruction contracts.