Anna ProuseA woman in IraqLiving in Iraq for six years, Anna Prouse is an Italian diplomat hired bythe Americans to rebuild the south of Iraq, mainly Shiite. Education,health, energy, agriculture, infrastructures, safety... She is challenging every issue, being the one and only Westerner in touch with all the branchesof Iraqi society.

Photos by Marc Roussel and Xavier Rossi / LightMediation Text by Marc Roussel

2433-10: Tea time, with Arabs from the Marshlands, near Al Chabaish. Anna Prouse is the only Westerner to go outside the American Base and to talk to Iraqis without being veiled.

Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency - +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 email: thierry@lightmediation.com

2433-01: Anna Prouse, a French-Italian emergency doctor, then journalist for La Repubblica dailynewspaper and now an Italian diplomat is the leader of the PRT (Province Reconstruction Team) in charge

2433-02: In the PRT secured compound, Anna Prouse opened the Mittica training centre for Iraqis ondifferent skills : agriculture, mechanics, health,etc.

2433-03: Anna, at the Mittica training centre, with Iraqi engineer Naim. 2433-04: Anna Prouse, a French-Italian emergency doctor, then journalist for La Repubblica dailynewspaper and now an Italian diplomat is the leader of the PRT (Province Reconstruction Team) in charge

2433-11: The "smile train", a hospital-truck imported from Italy is providing health care for local people, especially for harelip disease. Here, Anna with Rudolph Cachuela, the Surgeon General from Tallil Air Base.

2433-05: A short visit on the shore of Euphrates, close to Nasiriyah, in the dangerous neighborhood ofMutanasa

2433-06: While visiting NGOs in Nasiriyah, Anna crosses the floating bridge, named Shula, over theEuphrates.

2433-07: While visiting NGOs in Nasiriyah, Anna crosses the floating bridge, named Shula, over theEuphrates.

2433-08: Handover of 42 generators in the Arab Al Hajj Gathith Mosq. Anna meets the Mollahs's leader,Mollah Majeed Al Mosawi.

2433-22: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqi woman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-09: Handover of 42 generators in the Arab Al Hajj Gathith Mosq. Anna meets the Mollahs's leader,Mollah Majeed Al Mosawi.

2433-10: Tea time, with Arabs from the Marshlands, near Al Chabaish. Anna Prouse is the only Westernerto go outside the American Base and to talk to Iraqis without being veiled.

2433-11: The "smile train", a hospital-truck imported from Italy is providing health care for local people,especially for harelip disease. Here, Anna with Rudolph Cachuela, the Surgeon General from Tallil Air

2433-12: The "smile train", a hospital-truck imported from Italy is providing health care for local people,especially for harelip disease.

2433-36: This traditional reed house, called Moodif, was recently built by people from the Marshlands organized in a new Iraqi NGO, Nature Iraq. This NGO is supported by Annna Prouse in its work of rehabiltation of theMarshes, once drained by Saddam Hussein to hound Shias opponents.

2433-13: Visite d'un jardin public, baptisé le Jardin Italien, rénové par le PRT sur les rives de l'Euphrate, àNasiriyah. /// Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT

2433-14: Visite d'un jardin public, baptisé le Jardin Italien, rénové par le PRT sur les rives de l'Euphrate, àNasiriyah. /// Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT

2433-15: Visite d'un jardin public, baptisé le Jardin Italien, rénové par le PRT sur les rives de l'Euphrate, àNasiriyah. /// Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT

2433-16: Visite d'un jardin public, baptisé le Jardin Italien, rénové par le PRT sur les rives de l'Euphrate, àNasiriyah. /// Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT

2433-41: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates. Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the only link,in the South, between local authorities, especially the Sadrists, and Americans.

2433-17: Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT fundson the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

2433-18: Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRTfunds on the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

2433-19: Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRTfunds on the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

2433-20: With the Iraqi Police, on Tallil Air Base

2433-15: Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT funds on the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

2433-21: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-22: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-23: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-24: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-49: Safety briefing before leaving the PRT compound, inside the American Tallil Air Base. Anna's bodyguards (former British Special Forces) are the only ones to come out regularly in Iraqi territories.

2433-25: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-26: Mamma Suna kindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported by the PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

2433-27: The Iraqi NGO Love & Peace Society is supported by the PRT (building construction) to help theorphans, victims of 30 years of war.

2433-28: The Iraqi NGO Love & Peace Society is supported by the PRT (building construction) to help theorphans, victims of 30 years of war.

2433-06: While visiting NGOs in Nasiriyah, Anna crosses the floating bridge, named Shula, over the Euphrates.

2433-29: Exhibition of contemporary paintings in the Ziggurat of antique city Ur. Painting is mainly anoutlet for Iraqis artists.

2433-30: Anna Prouse, a French-Italian emergency doctor, then journalist for La Repubblica dailynewspaper and now an Italian diplomat is the leader of the PRT (Province Reconstruction Team) in

2433-31: Anna Prouse, a French-Italian emergency doctor, then journalist for La Repubblica dailynewspaper and now an Italian diplomat is the leader of the PRT (Province Reconstruction Team) in

2433-32: The monumental staircase of the Ziggurat of the antique city of Ur. The archeological site istoday inside the American Air Base of Tallil, near Nasiriyah, to avoid looting.

2433-35: The Iraqi marshes, once called the Garden of Eden in the Holy Book, host today the Madan - the Arabs of Marshlands - coming straight from the Sumerian people living here 4000 years BC exactly the sameway.

2433-33: This traditional reed house, called Moodif, was recently built by people from the Marshlandsorganized in a new Iraqi NGO, Nature Iraq. This NGO is supported by Annna Prouse in its work of

2433-34: The Iraqi marshes, once called the Garden of Eden in the Holy Book, host today the Madan - theArabs of Marshlands - coming straight from the Sumerian people living here 4000 years BC exactly the

2433-35: The Iraqi marshes, once called the Garden of Eden in the Holy Book, host today the Madan -the Arabs of Marshlands - coming straight from the Sumerian people living here 4000 years BC exactly

2433-36: This traditional reed house, called Moodif, was recently built by people from the Marshlandsorganized in a new Iraqi NGO, Nature Iraq. This NGO is supported by Annna Prouse in its work of

2433-48: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates. Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the only link,in the South, between local authorities, especially the Sadrists, and Americans.

2433-37: The Iraqi marshes, once called the Garden of Eden in the Holy Book, host today the Madan - theArabs of Marshlands - coming straight from the Sumerian people living here 4000 years BC exactly the

2433-38: The new Iraqi NGO, Nature Iraq, is lead by Jassim Aiasadi (right, with a green shirt). This NGOis supported by Annna Prouse in its work of rehabiltation of the Marshlands, once drained by Saddam

2433-39: A survey mission over the Central Marshlands, between Nasiriyah and Basrah. The heli is flying130 knots and a 100 feet high to escape from Iraqi radars and prevent any ambush.

2433-40: A survey mission over the Central Marshlands, between Nasiriyah and Basrah. The heli is flying130 knots and a 100 feet high to escape from Iraqi radars and prevent any ambush.

2433-08: Handover of 42 generators in the Arab Al Hajj Gathith Mosq. Anna meets the Mollahs's leader, Mollah Majeed Al Mosawi.

2433-41: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-42: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-43: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-44: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-17: Visiting a public garden, named The Italian Garden after Anna Prouse, renovated with PRT funds on the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

2433-45: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-46: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-47: Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi, chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shore of Euphrates.Westerners have very few contacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - a woman, a non-covered woman! - is the

2433-50: In the PRT office, on Tallil Air Base, Anna is checking the operations pending with Najat, aKurd-Italian involved in sustainable development.

2433-51: Fête de l'Aid El-Fitr, dernier soir du Ramadan./// Aid El-Fitr party, end of Ramadan. 2433-52: Fête de l'Aid El-Fitr, dernier soir du Ramadan./// Aid El-Fitr party, end of Ramadan.

2433-53: Le meilleur thé au citron de Nassiriyah /// The best lemon tea in Nasriyah. 2433-54: Le marché d'Al Batha'a, ou un attentat a fait 40 morts en juin 2009 /// Al Batha'a market where40 people were killed in June 2009 by a suicide bomber.

2433-55: Distribution de paniers repas à la mosquée Arab Al Hajj Gathith, tenue par des Sadristes. /// Food baskets distribution at the sadrist Arab Al Hajj Gathith mosq.

2433-55: Distribution de paniers repas à la mosquée Arab Al Hajj Gathith, tenue par des Sadristes. ///Food baskets distribution at the sadrist Arab Al Hajj Gathith mosq.

2433-56: Distribution de paniers repas aux bédouins qui vivent près de la base américaine de Tallil, àNassiriyah. /// Food baskets distribution to Beduins living close to Tallil Air base, in Nassriyah.

2433-58: Stav, garde du corps et médecin, lors d'une visite à un enfant blessé dans l'attentat d'Al Batha'aen juin 2009. Il sera ensuite évacué en Italie pour être soigné. /// Stav, a medic and personal protective

2433-59: Mohamed, propriétaire d'un café à Nassiriyah a perdu le bras et la jambe gauche dans unaccident. Anna a fait venir une prothèse des Etats-Unis. /// Mohamed, the owner of a coffee shop in

2433-61: Anna et le colonel Newell, commandant la base US de Nassiriyah, sont accueillis sur la basemilitaire irakienne de Maysan. /// Anna and Colonel Newell, commander of Tallil Air base in Nassriyah, are

2433-63: Anna Prouse et le Colonel Newell accueillent le Général Saad, chef de la police irakienne deMaysan, sur la base US Gary Owen. /// Anna and Colonel Newell welcome General Saad, the Iraqi chief

2433-64: Réunion d'état major US sur la base de Bassorah, sous la direction du Général Crouch (4étoiles), avec le Colonel Newell, commandant de la base de Tallil, et en présence d'Anna Prouse, seule

2433-65: Discussion sur le tarmac de l'aéroport de Tallil avec le Colonel Newell, Commandant de la baseUS de Nassiriyah. /// Talking with Colonel Newell, the commander of Tallil Air base, at the airport of the

2433-52: Fête de l'Aid El-Fitr, dernier soir du Ramadan./// Aid El-Fitr party, end of Ramadan.

2433-60: Mohamed, propriétaire d'un café à Nassiriyah a perdu le bras et la jambe gauche dans unaccident. Anna a fait venir une prothèse des Etats-Unis que lui pose George, médecin et garde du corps.

2433-66: Les marais irakiens, considérés comme le Jardin d'Eden dans la Bible, abritent aujourd'hui lesMadans - Arabes des Marais - héritiers directs du peuple Sumérien qui vivait ici il y a 5000 ans

2433-67: Cette maison traditionnelle du peuple des Marais, appelée Moudif, a été construite récemmentpar l'ONG Nature Iraq qui est soutenue par Anna Prouse dans son travail de réhabilitation des marais

Description4

Anna Prouse, awoman in Iraq-Text by MarcRoussel-

Anna Prouse is Italian. She is also French,by her mother Paulette, but she mostlyspeaks English although she sometimesspeaks some Arabic.A former emergency medic, she longworked as a journalist for the dailynewspaper La Repubblica, wrote threebooks and travelled a lot before shebecame a diplomat.Anna Prouse is living in Iraq since June2003. By that time of George Bush's war,and the following commitment ofBerlusconi, she decides to get involvedwith the Italian Red Cross. She spendsnearly three years in Baghdad, at theworse moment of history, quicklypinpointed by Paul Bremer who hires heras a special adviser for health. She is thenin charge of the field hospital of CampVictory - the biggest American militarybase in the world, living in the secureGreen Zone but going out regularly in themulti-confessional popular Baghdad. Shemiraculously escapes two attacks (ofwhich one from her own Iraqi body guardwho turns back his weapon) andprogressively seduces, by bravery,straight talking and close contact with theIraqis, the American high commandmentto the point that she becomes a closerelative of General Petraeus.In September 2006 she is named leaderof the PRT (Provincial ReconstructionTeam) for the south province of Iraq.

Working with the originally untenable ideaof "crisis sustainable development", sheleads since a team of scientists,logisticians and personal protectiveofficers that help her to set reconstructionactions for the country. Schools,orphanages, water treatment plants,power plants, public gardens as well asenvironmental issues, agriculture andhealth trainings, cultural events... AnnaProuse is challenging every set ofproblems but always in cooperation withIraqis. She is personally responsible for aUSD100 millions budget, coming from theUS State Department, the UN and theItalian government. From which she getsher official diplomatic status and,unofficially, a leading position innegotiating oil bids with Iraqis whosefreedom of decision is going increasingly.

We met her in April 2009, on the AmericanTallil Air Base, close to Nasiriyah, wherestands her HQ.There are 18 military bases of that kind inIraq, plus some others in the neighboringcountries, whose arithmetic, geographicaland social sum let us think of anextraterritorial 51st US state. Theseoverprotected camps, usually spread over10 square miles, preferably in the middleof any desert, look like true Americancities, occupied by soldiers that reflect allcomponents of their civil society - amongwhich 30 to 40% of women - wherenobody knows about Iraq and Iraqis,where dollar is the unique currency, whereyour choice for dinner is Mac Donald's,Pizza Hut or KFC and from where most ofthe people never go out. Unlike theAmerican Headquarter's and herambassador's warnings, Anna Prouse isgoing out of the base nearly every day.Nevertheless overseen by Ethan, Steve,Al or Mat, former British Special Forceswho tear out one's hair trying to control

her. Despite the serious threats she'sgetting regularly, Anna doesn't intend tocomply. " What should I fear? That mygovernment fires me out? Paulette wouldbe so happy! " This is the way Annaspeaks, to Americans, to Iraqis, to us or toanybody, never looking down, neverwearing the veil, with a red flower on herflack jacket, as a free and determinedwoman. She is going out, walking in thestreets of Nasiriyah, taking time to have acup of tea, visiting schools or mosques,venturing in the marshlands with piroguesfrom another age or in town in armoredconvoy, discussing with Mollahs as well ascolonels. In the whole south of Iraq,mainly Shiite and mostly depending onIran, she is the only Westerner havingestablished a contact with political andreligious authorities.To the point that, she was very recentlytelling us, special envoys from theextremist Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadrgot in touch with her. Anna presumes shewas chosen by the young religious leader- a soon to be Ayatollah after training inIran and a likely political head oftomorrow's Iraq - to be the go-betweenwith the Western world. No less, no more.Which, after all, seems so natural to thiswoman of power; which also scares her asthe Sadrists have such a bad reputation.

The only civilian in a world of militaries,Anna Prouse shows out her coquetry andclaims her femininity: she always wears,whatever the place and circumstances,elegant and fitted shirts and chooses byherself the dress of her bodyguards.Resigned not to be confident anymore, butenthusiastic as if it was the first day whenit comes to help Iraqis, she dreams, for thesixth following year, that she'll come backhome for Christmas, definitely.

Captions

1- Anna Prouse, a French-Italianemergency doctor, then journalist for LaRepubblica daily newspaper and now anItalian diplomat is the leader of the PRT(Province Reconstruction Team) in chargeof Iraq's south developpment.

2 - In the PRT secured compound, AnnaProuse opened the Mittica training centrefor Iraqis on different skills : agriculture,mechanics, health,etc.

3 - Anna, at the Mittica training centre,with Iraqi engineer Naim.

4- Anna Prouse, a French-Italianemergency doctor, then journalist for LaRepubblica daily newspaper and now anItalian diplomat is the leader of the PRT(Province Reconstruction Team) in chargeof Iraq's south developpment.

5- A short visit on the shore of Euphrates,close to Nasiriyah, in the dangerousneighborhood of Mutanasa

6-7 - While visiting NGOs in Nasiriyah,Anna crosses the floating bridge, namedShula, over the Euphrates.

8 -9 - Handover of 42 generators in theArab Al Hajj Gathith Mosq. Anna meetsthe Mollahs's leader, Mollah Majeed AlMosawi.

10 - Tea time, with Arabs from theMarshlands, near Al Chabaish. AnnaProuse is the only Westerner to go outsidethe American Base and to talk to Iraqiswithout being veiled.

11 - The "smile train", a hospital-truckimported from Italy is providing health carefor local people, especially for harelipdisease. Here, Anna with RudolphCachuela, the Surgeon General from TallilAir Base.

12 - The "smile train", a hospital-truckimported from Italy is providing health carefor local people, especially for harelipdisease.

13 - 14- 15- 16- 17- 18-19 Visiting a publicgarden, named The Italian Garden afterAnna Prouse, renovated with PRT fundson the banks of Euphrates in Nasiriyah.

20- With the Iraqi Police, on Tallil Air Base

21 - 22- 23- 24 - 25- 26 Mamma Sunakindergarten in Nasiriyah is supported bythe PRT and lead by a young Iraqiwoman, Mayson Al Rikaby.

27 - 28 The Iraqi NGO Love & PeaceSociety is supported by the PRT (buildingconstruction) to help the orphans, victimsof 30 years of war.

29 - Exhibition of contemporary paintingsin the Ziggurat of antique city Ur. Paintingis mainly an outlet for Iraqis artists.

30 - 31 Anna Prouse, a French-Italianemergency doctor, then journalist for LaRepubblica daily newspaper and now anItalian diplomat is the leader of the PRT(Province Reconstruction Team) in chargeof Iraq's south developpment.

32 - The monumental staircase of theZiggurat of the antique city of Ur. Thearcheological site is today inside theAmerican Air Base of Tallil, nearNasiriyah, to avoid looting.

33- This traditional reed house, calledMoodif, was recently built by people fromthe Marshlands organized in a new IraqiNGO, Nature Iraq. This NGO is supportedby Annna Prouse in its work ofrehabiltation of the Marshes, once drainedby Saddam Hussein to hound Shiasopponents.

34 - 35 The Iraqi marshes, once called theGarden of Eden in the Holy Book, hosttoday the Madan - the Arabs ofMarshlands - coming straight from theSumerian people living here 4000 yearsBC exactly the same way.

36 - This traditional reed house, calledMoodif, was recently built by people fromthe Marshlands organized in a new IraqiNGO, Nature Iraq. This NGO is supportedby Annna Prouse in its work ofrehabiltation of the Marshes, once drainedby Saddam Hussein to hound Shiasopponents.

37 - The Iraqi marshes, once called theGarden of Eden in the Holy Book, hosttoday the Madan - the Arabs ofMarshlands - coming straight from theSumerian people living here 4000 yearsBC exactly the same way.

38 - The new Iraqi NGO, Nature Iraq, islead by Jassim Aiasadi (right, with a greenshirt). This NGO is supported by AnnnaProuse in its work of rehabiltation of theMarshlands, once drained by SaddamHussein to hound Shias opponents.

39 - 40 A survey mission over the CentralMarshlands, between Nasiriyah andBasrah. The heli is flying 130 knots and a100 feet high to escape from Iraqi radarsand prevent any ambush.

41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48

Meeting with General Sabah Al Fatlawi,chief of Police of Nasiriyah, on the shoreof Euphrates. Westerners have very fewcontacts with Iraqis. Anna Prouse - awoman, a non-covered woman! - is theonly link, in the South, between localauthorities, especially the Sadrists, andAmericans.

49 - Safety briefing before leaving thePRT compound, inside the American TallilAir Base. Anna's bodyguards (formerBritish Special Forces) are the only onesto come out regularly in Iraqi territories.

50 - In the PRT office, on Tallil Air Base,Anna is checking the operations pendingwith Najat, a Kurd-Italian involved insustainable development.