CAMP AL-TAHREER, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2004 -— Insurgent activity won’t halt work being done to rebuild Baghdad’s infrastructure, according to the commander of American forces in Baghdad.

In an interview with Iraqi satellite station Al Sharqiya Sept. 21, Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, discussed recent acts of violence in Baghdad and the efforts the Multinational Forces are making to improve the security situation while ongoing civil military projects are rebuilding the city’s critical infrastructure systems.

“If I can have peace … today, I have enough money to do all the major work in Baghdad,” Chiarelli said. “We can do so much … to turn around the deplorable conditions there are in many portions of the city.”

Recent violence in Al Thawra, Haifa Street, and in other areas of Baghdad has caused some concern about whether the 1st Cavalry Division can continue to focus on providing assistance for civil military projects, Al Sharqiya reporter Amar Al-Joburi said.

There were over 15,000 people in Al Thawra employed on reconstruction projects in early August. Some of those projects were shut down for two-weeks when violence broke out between Iraqi insurgents and Multinational Forces last month.

“I think the key to improving the security situation in Baghdad is giving people hope through the execution of our large projects to fix the infrastructure,” he said.

While improvements are being made to Baghdad’s infrastructure, Iraqi security forces are working alongside 1st Cavalry Division soldiers to ensure stability is maintained in dangerous areas of the city like Al Thawra. Chiarelli said he believes that the Iraqi security forces are continually improving and getting stronger, but he stressed that the residents of Baghdad could play a part in improving the security situation.

“Every tip they give us. Every time they identify for us an [improvised explosive device], a mortar or a [vehicle-borne improvised explosive device], or a vehicle that they suspect; they make the security in Baghdad just a little bit better,” Chiarelli said.

The general added that a prosperous future can be attained in Baghdad if cooperation exists between the Iraqi security forces, Multinational Forces and the Iraqi people.