CPTnet
29 May 2006

IRAQ: Update from CPT's Iraq team

It has been a while since you have heard from CPT Iraq, and for that we
apologize. The team has been in a transition phase since Norman, Jim and
Harmeet were released from captivity on23 March.

We decided during the kidnapping to stay in Iraq until there was resolution.
After resolution, our plan was to have the team go out for a time to debrief
and to consider the future of our presence and work in Iraq. We followed our
plan, and currently the team is on a temporary leave of absence from Iraq
while we make decisions.

Before we left Iraq, we consulted widely with working partners, friends and
other advisors about our continuing presence and work in the country. The
consensus of the conversations was that the team should continue its work in
Iraq, but should leave the city of Baghdad for a time, probably between two
and six months, and then reevaluate the situation. The main reasons given
for being out of Baghdad were concerns for our safety and the continuing
uncertainties around formation of a new government. Because the situation
is very fluid and because our profile is very high right now, being out of
Baghdad temporarily surfaced as the most reasonable course of action.

We have continued to be in contact with working partners, friends and
employees in Iraq. They are keeping us advised about the situation in
general, and are helping us to explore the options that exist for us in
Iraq.

Currently two CPT Iraq interns are in the region. The team has decided to
have these two interns do some exploring in another part of Iraq and they
have now done so. We will post reports from these explorations in the near
future.

Our communications will not be frequent while we are in this transition
period, but we will keep you informed as events unfold.

We hope you will keep us, and U.S. and Iraqi civilians, troops and
politicians, in your prayers during this time of many important decisions
for us all.