Whatever Iraq is today, the opportunities and the accomplishments can be traced back to March 19-20, 2003, when an international coalition formed and unleashed a change of monumental proportions. Iraqis from all walks of life are free now to voice their opinions about the direction of the country's future. Our photo gallery presents images of the progress in governance, essential services, the economy, and security that the Iraqi people and the coalition partners have been able to achieve.

Despite the dilapidated infrastructure left by Saddam's corrupt regime, recovery efforts have been stimulated by civil-military investments with U.S. and coalition forces responsible for 13,000 projects including rebuilding bridges, roads and sewers; clearing 18,500 kilometers of irrigation canals; and refurbishing more than 600 schools, 70 mosques and 75 medical facilities. Since March 8 the Iraqi people have an interim constitution signed by the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) guaranteeing freedom of religion, worship and expression; the right to assemble and organize political parties; and the right to vote and demonstrate. Last May there were no Iraqi security forces but today there are more than 200,000 and the Coalition Provisional Authority is training and equipping nine Iraqi infantry brigades with 27 battalions. A year ago television screens across the globe broadcast scenes of widespread looting in the chaos that often follows war. Today, according to the newsletter "Iraq Reconstruction Report," millions of Iraqis are buying cell phones, cars and satellite dishes, and private companies are setting up computers with Internet connections. These collections of photos above will demonstrate the progress achieved within the past year in the new Iraq.