Home > War in the Persian Gulf > L. Bremer Biography

Born September 30, 1941

Hartford, Connecticut

U.S. civil administrator in charge of the postwar reconstruction of Iraq

"America has no designs on Iraq and its wealth. We will finish our job here and stay not one day longer than necessary...."

L. Paul Bremer III in the New York Times.

L. Paul Bremer III is head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the civilian (nonmilitary) organization in charge of the postwar reconstruction of Iraq. A retired diplomat and former U.S. ambassador, Bremer was selected by President George W. Bush (see entry) to oversee the process of rebuilding Iraq and helping the Iraqi people form a democratic government. Bremer faced a difficult task, as U.S. military personnel and international aid workers came under a series of violent attacks during the postwar period. But the Coalition Provisional Authority still managed to...