Show 003 — A13 The Herald Journal Logan Utah Friday October 17 0 Occupation in Iran I" i I ‘ A' FoiraiaDini Labor Ministry estimates that 7 0 percent are without work with just one battalion Some state factories from the old I government-ru- n economy have man- to but heavier industries' aged reopen remain dosed especially those asso- dated with military products Hie US-le- d authority through Iraq’s interim administration the 700-ma- n ‘ By Charles J Hanley The Associated Press mention die millions of idle workers but Iraqis see diem everywhere on their streets in their homes “This is our biggest problem today” said BAGHDAD Iraq (AP)— They Nouri Jafer labor undersecretary in line up by the hundreds in the mornIraq’s interim Cabinet ing heat on the slim hope of a job Others wait — and wait — in a Iraq became a land of the unemdowntown square for a chance at a ployed when the government col- lapsed in April under attack from the day’s backbreaking construction invasion force and its -' Across town one jobwork and $2 ministries were burned and less engineer serves tea for pennies factories and oil installations from a sidewalk table Luckur Iraqis are handed brooms to sweep Bagh- - ' looted in die war’s chaotic aftermath Then after taking over in early May dad’s dusty streets Bremer formally dissolved die Iraqi Six months after America’s lightning war in Iraq the vast majority of army ‘‘The first mistake was when they Iraqi workers are unemployed The disestablished die army and police Labor Ministry estimates 70 percent or more some 12 million Iraqis are ' forces” Jafira said “This created V more unemployment because (Presiwithoutjobs half-yeoccua of dent) Saddam Hussein had more than Summarizing a million in the security forces” pation last week US administrator “That surprised me shutting down L Paul Bremer pointed to Baghdad’s traffic-fille-d Nasir Ali and die army” reopened shops Abed 27 told a reporter after hand-- : streets ‘‘Anyone can see the wheels of commerce turning” he told ing in an application at a makeshift f reporters '' “job center” run by volunteers in a His economic status report did not Baghdad pork The main breadwin-- ' US-Briti- sh i Governing CounciL has financed 340000 emergency jobs generally ' paying the equivalent of $3 a day to a new army of 180000 street cleaners across Iraq and 160000 people clearing the countryside’s poorly maintained irrigation canals - In the face of 12 million howeveL V “this is a very small number” Jafer said " The permanent jobs people want are in government ministries — at a minimum of $60 a month double or triple what they earned before the war Such government jobs are a first priority in a placement program Iraqi and occupation officials are trying to ' organize “We’ve registered 350000 sol- diers and officers for a combination ' of employment services — counsel- ing placement We’re putting (Item r into a database” said Army Lt Col-?- ' James Oiwell senior US adviser to “ the Labor Ministry stater-owne-d ' y AP photo Ms only tools to pick up some work in Baghdad’s downtown square on Monday Six months after America's war in Iraq the vast majority of Iraqi workers are unemployed The Iraqi Labor and Social Affairs Ministry estimates 70 percent some 12 million Iraqis are without jobs An Iraqi man waits with his hammers ar J l: Bremer’s Coalition Provisional fence is a Authority rebuilding police — 40000 nationally thus far — but has only begun reviving the army ner for an extended family of 17 Abed wants a police job but he isn’t hopeful “Things are not getting bet- ter” ’ - M ra&y AP photo - US soldiers salute Spc Donald L Wheeler and Spc James Powell on Thursday during a memorial ceremony in Tlkrit after the two soldiers were killed in two separate incidents earlier in the week ' t ’A'' sv s' concerns moraleof troops ''ft' it '4 Half say they won’t re-enli- st after tour ends WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is closely watching for morale problems among troops in Iraq its two ' top leaders said Thursday as a new survey found half those questioned there are inclined when their not to tours of duty end The military newspaper ist i ' Stars and Strips said a third of some 2000 people questioned said their morale is low ' Though the paper said the ' questionnaire was not scientif--' ic the results raised anew worries that long deployments and the complex and dangerous mission in Iraq will prompt some to leave the military at the first opportunity The findings also appeared to contradict previous statements by Bush administration officials and returning con- grcssional delegations which have portrayed morale as high among occupation forces trying to stabilize violent resis' tance from remnants of Saddam Hussein’s fallen as well as restart the regime ' economy and government Top Defense Department officials didn’t dispute the questionnaire results at a Pentagon news conference Thursday and rather stressed the importance of the issue to than “Morale is really important because it’s the people who get foe job done” said Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Richard Myers appearing with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “We often focus on foe high-tec- h piece of our business and the equipment and so forth But in the end it’s the individual soldier sailor Marine Coast Guardsmen that make the difference” Myers said Rumsfeld said foe Army is 'v" zy - - working on a number of ways to bolster morale He also said recruiting efforts so far haven’t been notably affected But he added that stress on foe forces normally would not be reflected until farther down '"'V: ’ -- Stainless Washer Most efficient Washer in the World the road Myers said he had read the news stories on the survey questionnaire and considered them “useful insight” as he does feedback he seeks from congressmen and others who visit Iraq “We ask them those questions ’How do you find the soldiers’?" Myers said “It’s something we take very seriously we look at it all the Super Capacity Plus ' time” Asked his opinion Rumsfeld suggested he isn’t the best judge of morale because troops appear spirited and proud of their work when he visits them Myers also said he seeks out information because he fears commanders on the ground may show him only foe “happy folks” when he visits In a companion piece to its stray Wednesday the government-funded Stars and Stripes said the commander in Iraq challenged the survey results “There is no morale problem” Lt: Gen Ricardo Sanchez told the paper “Are you going to find soldiers on any given day who are down on morale? Of course” he was quoted as saying ” I walk around and talk to all sorts of soldiers also and I honestly believe our soldiers are doing very very well” The newspaper said some 60 percent of those questioned complained about a range of subjects It said that conducted a “convenience survey” meaning the questions woe asked of those who happened to be available at foe time rather than to a randomly selected cross-secti- on y y Vfer'S Only ' 182 Cu Ft Refrigerator Glass shelves ADD ON ICE MAKER 26 Cm 26 Cu Ft Stainless Ft Deluxe xsx Refrigerator Deluxe Refrigerator for $40 flt ' jj RO ill ' "O’-- l f v - c HOME FURNISHINGS “Furniture for Life ” 2175 N Main MONDAY N Logan 900 AM - 7X) FM ‘ -- HOME FURNISHINGS BUDOH & CILICE QliTH 8 TUESFRL 9:30 AM 9X) FM SATURDAY 9:00 AM Visit its 753-101- ' 6 PM at ivwwFisherhomecom O EE 1031 North Main Hours: MF logon 9:307:00 753-932- 3 Sot 9:306:00 |