RUINATION TO REVITALIZATION: REBUILDING A WAR-TORN CITY IN BAGHDAD Christopher L. Allen Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Graduate Student

CONTENTS Baghdad: Historical Context Perspective from Saydiyah Lines of Effort Security Economics Essential Services Governance Obstacles and Constraints Lasting Effects Lessons Learned

BAGHDAD: MODERN CONTEXT OIF Post- Surge, U.S. COIN Strategy shift 2LT Allen deployment

PERSPECTIVE FROM SAYDIYAH Pop: ~40,000 Majority Ba’athist community 2007: sectarian violence Jan 2008: abandonment Rashid District Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), squatters

LINES OF EFFORT SECURITY ECONOMICS ESSENTIAL SERVICES GOVERNANCE STABILITY

SECURITY Weapons trafficking, insurgents T-Wall Solution Joint U.S./Iraqi Army patrols Iraqi National Police Checkpoints within walls Sons & Daughters of Iraq: local concerned citizens

ECONOMICS Micro-Grants Fruit and Fish Market project Rafidain Bank Reopening Job Creation

ESSENTIAL SERVICES Education Clinic Roads Sewers Trash management Power generation

GOVERNANCE Reconciliation Support Council: “unelected” body, local sheiks Balance of power Primary function: Resettlement

OBSTACLES AND CONSTRAINTS Culture gap Language barrier Enemy threat Weather & Climate Training Collective Benefit Adjudicating legitimacy: Iraqi-led

LASTING EFFECTS Saydiyah set the standard January 2010: 7,200 families reintegrated Gradual drawdown, return to normalcy Over $1 Million dollars invested Sporadic sectarian & insurgency violence 31 December 2011: U.S. Withdrawal out of Iraq

LESSONS LEARNED Citizen input CRUCIAL No perfect 100% solution Quality of life significantly improved No “one best way” All military objectives accomplished despite obstacles Outside agency support Transition to Iraqi control Deliberate analysis