Paul Bremer

Lewis Paul Bremer III ( born September 30, 1941 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American diplomat and government official. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as civil administrator for Iraq on 6 May 2003, thus replacing the previous administrator Jay Garner after only a few weeks.

Biography

Bremer graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover (Massachusetts ). He then studied at the universities of Yale and Harvard and at the Institut d' Etudes Politiques de Paris economics and political science.

From 1966 to 1989, the Republicans Bremer worked for the U.S. State Department. During this time, he held, among others, the post of Ambassador to the Netherlands ( 1983-1986 ). In 1989 he moved as an expert on risk assessment in the free economy. In June 2000 he warned as Chairman of the National Terrorism Commission before a major terrorist attack in the United States. In 2002, President Bush committed him for his advisory board for Internal Security. On 6 May 2003, he was head of the Coalition Provisional Authority for Iraq and retained the position until the transfer of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on June 28, 2004.

Economic Policy in Iraq

On September 19, 2003, Paul Bremer, in his capacity as administrator, issued a set of regulations that changed the Iraqi economy policy thoroughly: he privatized virtually all state-owned companies within a very short time, sometimes at very low prices, allowed full ownership of foreign firms of Iraqi businesses and complete repatriation of profits; also Iraqi banks were opened for the acquisition by foreign capital, duties were completely abolished. However, the oil industry was initially exempt from these requirements.

Other significant decisions Bremer were the prohibition of the Baath Party with 50,000 members and the dissolution of the Iraqi army with 450,000 members. Privatization, party and ban army - resolution brought about social degradation for millions of Iraqis and is considered as the reason for today lack balance between the political groups or religious communities of Iraq. Since the occupation of Iraq by American troops until today approximately 120,000 civilians were killed.

There is also a flat tax system was introduced with a graduated tax rate. Strikes were banned and restricted the right to organize.

Honors

2004 gave U.S. President George W. Bush Bremer the Presidential Medal of Freedom ("The Presidential Medal of Freedom" ), the highest civilian award in the United States.