Dempsey to Visit Iraq to Check Security Cooperation

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2012 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he will visit Iraq to check the status of security cooperation between the United States and Iraq.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey will meet with the commander of the U.S. Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, Army Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen.

Dempsey will also meet with his Iraqi counterpart, Gen. Zebari Babakir, and get his insights on how the transition is working. “How’s that campaign going?” Dempsey asked. “Do they have the resources they need?”

Dempsey said the stop will give him a general idea of security environment in Iraq. There has been some violence in the country recently recently, including a series of attacks timed to the end of Ramadan that killed 92 people.

The chairman said he may or may not meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. “If I do I will take the opportunity to renew my friendship with him, but also get his insights on Syria,” he said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

There are indications that Iran is helping set up a Shiia pro-regime militia in Syria, the general said. “You can tell which forces are conventional military and which are militia,” he said.

The conflict in Syria has been going on for 18 months, and Dempsey said the conventional Syrian military is losing capabilities. “I’ve actually been watching to see if they would go the route of creating a militia to take some of the pressure off the conventional military,” he said.

The general said he will express the U.S. military’s concern about Iranian influence in Syria, “but it’s a message being delivered not as a matter of policy but as someone who has invested quite a bit of their life in Iraq.”

Acting Iraqi Defense Minister Sadun Farhan al-Dulaymi Babakir has visited Washington looking to establish more security cooperation, joint exercises and professional development. Dempsey said he has the impression “that after seeing what the last eight months without us looks like – and I don’t mean we are coming back to Iraq – but their capabilities may require yet additional development and they are reaching out to us to see if we can help with that.”

Iran absolutely seeks economic influence in Iraq, and they seek to influence the direction that Iraqi government takes, Dempsey said.

“My judgment is that if Iran’s position erodes in Syria, they will try to increase it in Iraq,” he said.

General Calls Iraq Operations ‘Worth It’ in Final News Briefing

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2011 – As the final U.S. military convoys roll out of Iraq these next three weeks, marking the end of eight years of operations, Americans can be proud of the work service members did there, U.S. Forces Iraq’s deputy commanding general said today.

In USFI’s final news briefing of the War in Iraq from Baghdad, Army Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick told the Pentagon press corps that Americans and Iraqis will have different opinions about whether Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn “were worth it.”

“From where I sit, it was,” Helmick said.

It was because of the U.S. military role that the country held historic elections in March 2010, giving Iraq “the opportunity for a sovereign future,” the general said. And, he added, violence is at an eight-year low.

Helmick said his beliefs are underscored by the positive comments of some wounded warriors and family members of the fallen, which totals more than 4,500 U.S. service members.

“My firm belief is that there is no other military in the world that can do what yours did in Iraq,” he said. “For eight years, they have been building and securing this country.”

U.S. troops’ greatest legacy in Iraq, Helmick said, is in the professionalism, confidence and esprit de corps of the Iraqi security forces.

“We gave 28 million Iraqis the greatest gift anyone can give and that is their freedom,” he said.

Helmick marked the historic occasion by calling the veterans of Iraq operations the next “Greatest Generation,” a reference to those who served in World War II.

“The significance of this day doesn’t escape me,” the general said on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For their service in Iraq, he said, “America discovered the next greatest generation.”

“Words cannot begin to express the pride I feel about America’s military performance and service in Iraq,” he added.

The 18-month process of drawing down forces in Iraq “is simply historic,” going from 300,000 service members and more than 5,000 installations in 2007 to 8,000 troops and five bases today, Helmick said. Military drivers have logged 16 million miles, “moving a mountain of equipment and personnel,” mostly through southern Iraq and into Kuwait, and have fewer than 1,000 truckloads left, he said.

U.S. forces built the Iraqi security forces to more than 700,000, trained them, and left them with “some of the best [equipment] we have,” including the M1 Abrams tank and artillery equipment, the general said. U.S. forces also were in charge of the country’s security until 2010 when Iraqi forces took the lead.

Every piece of U.S. military equipment “goes through an agonizing process” of determining whether it should be shipped out of the country or left for the Iraqis, Helmick said. The U.S. military has incurred significant savings in transportation costs by leaving equipment, namely office furniture, in Iraq, he said.

Iraq still has challenges, Helmick said, including continued threats from al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, Iranian meddling, and internal ethnic tensions.

Iraq has made good progress on police work, the general said, and is capable of securing the country internally, if not externally. “The Iraqis understand they have a security gap if someone comes into their air space who doesn’t want to be seen,” he said.

Whether or not the Iraqis choose a future U.S. military role in security is up to them, the general said.

“The sense I get from the Iraqis is that they want to have a strong relationship with our country,” he said.

Asked about the military’s “lessons learned” in Iraq, Helmick said, “We performed, really, beyond expectations.”

Early on, the general said, service members in Iraq had to do things they weren’t necessarily trained to do. They weren’t very good at advising Iraqi farmers on wheat crops, “but we did that,” or in helping with the oil refinery and distribution processes, “but we did that,” he said.

“The military had to branch out through all the different portions of the government sector because, at that time, there was no one to pass the ball off to,” Helmick said.

U.S. operations in Iraq later became the example of how best to synchronize military and civilian actions, Helmick said. Americans serving in the Iraq War learned about the country’s culture and enabled the Iraqis to create a system of security and governance for themselves, he said, rather than a template of how things are done in the United States.

As for Iraq’s future security, Helmick said, “We really don’t know what is going to happen, but we know we’ve done everything we can for the Iraqi security forces.”

Asked if the Iraqis are capable of doing their part to keep U.S. State Department employees and contractors safe when they take over the U.S. role there Jan. 1, the general said, “My gut tells me they will be capable to do this -- they’re doing it today.”

Biden Expresses Gratitude to U.S., Iraqi Forces

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2011 – Joined by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden thanked U.S. and Iraqi armed forces for their sacrifices, commitment and success.

“I also know you gentlemen will acknowledge that America sent you the very best our country has to offer -- our young men and women, … but also their leaders,” Biden told the Iraqi leaders, praising the leadership of U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James F. Jeffrey and Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq.

The vice president surveyed the U.S. and Iraqi troops assembled in Al Faw palace, all “bound together by a shared sacrifice in the service of both their countries.”

Given a mission “as complicated and as challenging as any in our history,” they adapted with the changing situation on the ground tackled everything they were asked to do, he said.

“You succeeded,” he said. “You helped defeat a tyrant, helped beat back violent extremists, and enabled the rise of a new democratic nation, and gave the Iraqi people a chance, at long last, for a better future -- a future they deserve.”

Working side by side, the U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces “have laid the foundation for a long-term, strategic partnership between our nations and also for an Iraq that, against all odds, can serve as a source of stability not only for its people, but here in the region, and for years to come,” he said.

Biden noted how far the situation in Iraq has progressed, and he acknowledged the troops’ “heroic work” that made it possible. “Because of you and the work those of you in uniform have done, we are now able to end this war,” he said.

The United States has kept its promises – to remove all U.S. troops from Iraqi cities, to end its combat mission last August and reduce its forces in Iraq to 50,000, and now, to remove all troops by the year’s end, Biden noted.

Biden shared Maliki’s observation that some have questioned whether Iraqi security forces would be ready to assume full security responsibility for their country.

“But the Iraq security forces proved to be more than ready,” he said. “You met the challenge. Throughout the downturn of United States forces and coalition forces, you kept your people safe. And violence has remained at its lowest level since 2003 -- because of you.”

Now comes a time of transition, Biden said, as the United States and Iraq explore ways to expand their relationship for the future, calling it a new chapter and a fresh start that both the Iraqi and American people want and deserve.

The strategic framework agreement between Iraq and the United States will guide this relationship, with broad cooperation across wide areas he said, noting that unlike the security agreement, it does not expire.

It represents “a fundamentally different type of relationship, grounded in civilian cooperation between equal sovereigns,” he said, and a long-term comprehensive relationship between the two nations.

“It means America will remain deeply engaged here in Iraq, and throughout the region,” he said. The United States will remain a loyal partner, he added.

Biden offered high praise for U.S. service members and Iraqi security forces for paving the way for a new generation of Iraqis to face a hopeful future with decreased violence.

“It was the sacrifice and bravery and professionalism of all of you assembled before me in uniform that made it possible,” he said. “And it will not and should not be forgotten -- either in Iraq, or in my home country of the United States of America.”

He paid special tribute to the 4,486 who made the ultimate sacrifice, and more than 30,000 who were wounded in Iraq.

“We honor their sacrifice, as well as yours, and we take immense pride and success in what you have done,” he told the assembly, noting the nation’s responsibility to care for its veterans.

“We owe you,” he said. “The only sacred obligation our nation has is to care for those who we send to war, and care for them when they come home.”

As the last of U.S. forces return home this month and their mission ends in Iraq, Biden acknowledged that the threats they confronted haven’t disappeared. He expressed confidence, however, that the Iraqis are ready to confront them.

“Iraqi security forces have been well trained [and] prepared, and you are fully capable of meeting the challenge,” he said. “And Iraq’s emerging, inclusive political culture will be the ultimate guarantor … of this stability.”

Biden challenged the Iraqis to seize the opportunity to provide their people a normal, prosperous future, knowing that the United States remains a committed partner.

“Our forces are leaving with their heads held high,” he said. “But the hard-won ties between our two nations, pray God, will live on.”

California Guard members prepare Iraqis for heavy-duty mission

Check out these Second Gulf War books written by veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn!

By Army Spc. Matthew Wright

California National Guard

CAMP TAJI, Iraq (10/3/11) – In preparation for the upcoming assumption of operations by Iraqi Security Forces here, Soldiers from Alpha Company, 640th Aviation Support Battalion recently conducted a week-long class training Iraqi army personnel on Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks.

The M978M HEMTT fuel truck is a 10-ton, eight-wheeled, fuel servicing vehicle. It is a bulk liquid transporter that holds 2,500 gallons of fuel and is equipped with a fuel resupply module for pumping fuel.

Iraqi personnel were trained to not only operate and maintain the fuel vehicles, but also to conduct training for other Iraqis on operating and maintaining the HEMTTs.

Army Staff Sgt. Rory Huerta, noncommissioned officer in charge of the training program, said the Iraqis would be receiving six brand new HEMITTs.

“We need to make sure that they understand how to not just drive them, but conduct preventive maintenance and services on the vehicles as well as fuel their vehicles and aircraft,” Huerta said.

The 40 hours of training started with the 640th familiarizing the Iraqis on HEMTT basic preventative maintenance.

As the course continued through the week, the Iraqis received training on driving the vehicles and operating the fueling system, including fueling of other vehicles and aircraft.

After familiarization and fueling training, 640th Soldiers taught Iraqi personnel instructional techniques for training other Iraqi troops on the HEMTTs.

Iraqi army Capt. Ali, the senior Iraqi officer in the class, said he was impressed with the training and its usefulness for Iraqi personnel.

“The class is providing very good information for us,” Ali said. “This experience will be good for the warrant officers and the fueling specialists that I have worked with for 25 years.”

The training of Iraqi personnel on the HEMITTS was important because they will soon assume responsibility for these services that American Soldiers. The ISF will take over the support of operations here as well as the full base operations.

Army Lt. Col. Lou Carmona, battalion commander of the 640th ASB, delivered a speech during the graduation ceremony at the conclusion of the training.

Carmona said he was proud of the outstanding manner in which A Company accomplished its mission, as well as the importance of the training for the ISF.

“This equipment is an important capability for the Iraqi army,” he said. “It represents the ability to project aviation into parts of the country where little or no infrastructure exists.

“At the end of the day, my Soldiers were able to connect with the Iraqis.”

Much Improved Iraq Enjoys Liberty, U.S. Commander Says

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 – American forces’ efforts in Iraq “have given the people of Iraq a huge gift” through the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a democratic society, a senior U.S. commander said today.

“We have given them freedom and liberty that they've never known, and we have given them the potential to have a democracy in this part of the world … where it would be a unique institution,” Army Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins, commander of U.S. Division-North and the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division, told Pentagon reporters via video teleconference from his headquarters in Tikrit.

U.S. military forces are slated to depart Iraq by the end of the year. Iraq has experienced significant improvements, although some problems remain to be solved, the general said.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, launched in March 2003, ended the regime of the ruthless Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Iraqi Freedom transitioned to Operation New Dawn in September 2010, marking the shift from combat operations to training, equipping and assisting Iraqi forces. Perkins’ division has led those efforts in the northern provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Diyala since last October.

The 4th was involved in the first troop rotation to Iraq and is now completing its fourth deployment, the general said, adding that every tour there has had unique aspects.

The advise, train and assist mission also has involved transitioning operations, operating areas and bases to Iraqi forces, Perkins said.

Those forces, he noted, now lead their own internal security operations and are focusing much of their training on the military’s traditional mission of defending against external threats.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces now share bilateral responsibility for 22 formerly trilateral checkpoints along disputed territory in northern Iraq, Perkins said, as U.S. forces have pulled back into an overwatch role.

No violence has occurred at any of those checkpoints since U.S. forces withdrew from daily presence, the general said, noting arbitration mechanisms are in place to manage any disputes, the general said.

“At the very senior level of this mechanism, we will have State Department people engaged as well as Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq people engaged, but it's at a much lower level as far as number of people than we had when I first got here,” Perkins said.

Iraqi forces also take the lead against al-Qaida activity in the north, which has long been a main operating and fund-raising area for the group as well as a primary entry point into the region for foreign fighters, he said.

“We've seen a dramatic drop-off in the foreign fighter flow coming into Iraq … [and] instead of foreign aid coming in large amounts, they're resorting to what I would call extortion, black marketing, robbery of jewelry stores, things like that,” Perkins said.

“We are now seeing intra-al-Qaida fighting and disputes [in] the organization itself about how money is distributed,” he added.

Perkins credited al-Qaida’s decline in Iraq to the capabilities and persistence of the country’s soldiers and police.

“They generally are on the pointy end of the spear here going after these folks,” Perkins said of the antiterrorism efforts conducted by Iraq’s security forces “And then when they do that, they are getting much better at getting their own internal intelligence, turning it around and going after the networks.”

The al-Qaida network in northern Iraq is not ineffective, but it has been “highly degraded,” the general said.

“We see now more vehicle-borne explosive devices that are parked and detonated versus being driven and detonated, which means they're having a hard time getting people who are true believers to actually be the suicide folks,” he said.

Perkins said Iranian-backed attacks in the north also have declined recently under pressure from Iraqi security forces.

“But, again, we know that capacity is there, so we keep those pressures on those networks,” he said, adding that historically, most Iranian-backed attacks happen in Baghdad and the southern part of Iraq.

Iraqi forces must be self-sustainable to maintain pressure on criminal and terrorist networks without U.S. military support, Perkins noted.

“From day one, our intent was to build a sustainable capability that on the last day, we can walk away, and then the day after that, it continues,” he said.

In training Iraqi forces, his troops are now focused on the areas of intelligence fusion and logistics, he added.

“We've paid additional attention to developing a logistics system, a supply system and also an ability for them to share intelligence not only within their army but between their police and border organizations … because, again, fusing that intelligence allows them to get after threats both internal and external,” the general said.

Perkins said his troops have spent much time putting together doctrinal and instructional manuals and getting them translated to Arabic.

“After we leave, again, there is something that they can build on,” he said. “We also videotaped and recorded … infantry movements, all the basic kind of things so they can take a very immature force, recruits, show them what right looks like and then move forward on it.”

Iraq’s defense capability will increase with its recently announced purchase of 18 F-16 fighters, the general said.

“I think the significant part is that they have made that commitment to get 18 [fighters] initially, which means they are now going to have a modern air force,” Perkins said. “They're going to have pilot training; they're going to have to have a maintenance program … and then adding aircraft after that is much easier.”

That sort of capability-building already has taken place in the Iraqi intelligence-gathering community, Perkins said.

“They weren't asking for their own [intelligence and surveillance] platforms because they didn't even know they had them,” he said. “And so once we told them that they had them, once we showed them how to ask for them, then that became self-sustaining because they generated a demand signal which then had to be met by their institution.”

Over the past year U.S. forces in northern Iraq have decreased from around 10,000 in 38 bases to about 5,000 in 14 locations, Perkins said.

“We have tried to do it in a very deliberate manner, in going over in a very deliberate way how they are going to conduct security,” he said.

“We've been very pleased, I think, with their ability to stand up and not only control the base and equipment, but keep security under control here in the north,” he said.

The United States has invested “a lot of treasure, both human and financial” in Iraq, the general said.

“Each day we hand more and more of the responsibility off to the Iraqis … [and] they are grabbing hold of and running with it,” he said.

Iraq’s leaders will determine how successful their country will ultimately be, Perkins said.

“It is up to the [Iraqi] political leadership to make this thing work and do the kind of tough work, selfless service, to make those hard decisions that are for the benefit of their country to make sure that this is a viable democracy,” he said.

Possible F-16 Buy Highlights Iraq’s Progress

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2011 – Iraq’s potential purchase of 18 U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft is an encouraging development that benefits both nations, the senior U.S. Air Force component commander in Iraq told Pentagon reporters today.

“I do not have any word yet that a letter of offer and acceptance is signed, but as you probably know, we did have a senior member of the Iraqi government visit Washington,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy, commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq, and director, Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq.

“There was some great work done on that. Everyone that I talk to at every level of government in Iraq is convinced that that is the right approach for them,” Handy said. “And so we’re very encouraged by those words, and we feel that we’re very close to them signing that letter of offer and acceptance.”

Handy said the Iraqis could potentially buy more F-16 aircraft if, and when, they sign a letter of offer and acceptance.

“They are seeking to buy a larger number of F-16s than they had originally -- up to 36,” he said. “This first letter of offer and acceptance is for 18 of them … we hope to hear very soon that’s signed but no final word yet on that.”

Handy noted things remain very promising but challenging in Iraq with Iraqis “on a path to be able to stand alone as a stable, self-reliant and unified nation.”

“It’s very exciting … because we are afforded the opportunity to see the results of years of progress by many, many Americans’ -- hard-earned progress,” the general said. “It’s challenging because as we continue to establish this enduring strategic partnership, we are re-posturing or redeploying some 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians from Iraq and transitioning bases, facilities and infrastructure to the government of Iraq and our U.S. Embassy partners.”

Handy lauded U.S. military efforts in Iraq as troops conduct stability and transitioning operations.

“The airmen I have the privilege of leading in Iraq through this challenge have a very important role in the transition,” he said. “We continue to perform all the roles and missions we’ve done for a number of years.”

Handy said these missions include over watch of American forces with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance assets; close air support; air mobility; aerial port operations; personnel recovery; and air base management -- all while re-posturing U.S. forces.

“In addition to these traditional air component tasks, you’ll find airmen working together with their joint partners in just about every area in the country, to include engineering, analysts, logistics specialists,” Handy added.

The senior U.S. Air Force commander in Iraq also praised airmen for their performance as advisors to Iraqi air force personnel.

“Our Air Force personnel have helped the Iraqi air force and the Iraqi Army Aviation Command progress to where they are now and have much to be proud of,” Handy said. “These advisors have been very successful -- extraordinarily so if you think about it in the last five years.”

Iraqi air force and Iraqi Army Aviation Command ranks “have grown tenfold,” Handy said, noting American airmen have had an advisory role in those Iraqi units.

“As the Iraqis are moving forward and we’re transitioning, we are handing more and more of those functions completely over to the Iraqis,” Handy said. “Those proud, young Iraqi airmen I spoke of give us great hope.”

Air Force Iraq Mission Likely to Increase Before It Ends

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2011 – As the American presence in Iraq draws down, the U.S. Air Force mission in the nation likely will increase, Air Force Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy said.

Handy -- commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force and director of the Air Component Coordination Element in Iraq -- discussed the Air Force mission in Iraq and the way forward during a telephone interview from his headquarters at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

“We have to continue doing the same things we’ve been doing supportwise that we have been doing through the entire transition,” the general said.

The command is responsible for coordinating and enabling air operations in the country. “As we continue to draw down the land component, we will continue to fly cover overhead,” Handy said. He anticipates that the number of U.S. Air Force sorties will trend up in the next few months to cover the drawdown.

This includes the full range of missions, from close-air support to strategic airlift, he said. It also entails armed overwatch of U.S. troops conducting partnered operations with Iraqi forces and aiding U.S. forces as they defend installations and protect convoys.

And intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance “is a huge part of our mission area, and we will continue to fly that,” he added.

Some 46,000 U.S. troops are in Iraq today, and all are set to leave by the end of the year as part of the U.S.-Iraq security agreement signed in 2008. This will mean an influx of mobility forces coming into Iraq, Handy said.

“That is a growth area for the Air Force here between now and the end of the year as we start to pull forces out,” he said. “We will need a lot of airlift.”

This is not just C-130 Hercules tactical airlift, but involves giant C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy transport jets. These aircraft will require tanker aircraft and other support, so this will be a busy time for airmen in country, Handy said.

Meanwhile, the general said, the command is in the process of turning over air bases to the Iraqi air force.

In addition, the U.S. Air Force has a number of units and individual airmen embedded with U.S. Army units in Iraq.

“These airmen are engineers, security forces, intelligence professionals and medics,” Handy said.

Also, a number of airmen are working with experts at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to rebuild the Iraqi transportation system.

“They need to build that from the ground up -- from radars and communications linkages to training air traffic controllers and to fit all that together,” Handy said. The airmen have been transferring “chunks” of Iraqi airspace to the Iraqis for the past two years, he noted, and the U.S. Air Force is responsible for a small segment at lower altitudes of central Iraq.

“Our requirements through the end of the year won’t go down, and in some cases will increase,” the general said. The command will do that in combination with Air Force units from outside the country, he added.

Handy’s command also assists the Iraqi air force and the Iraqi army’s aviation command. The U.S. Air Force partners with Iraqi airmen where it can. “We do partner, advise, assist and train with the Iraqis in every mission area within their capabilities,” Handy said.

As Iraqi capabilities increase, U.S. airmen pull back, the general said. For example, he said, the Iraqis operate their own tactical airlift program with no U.S. involvement.

The Iraqis have run the C-130 squadron on their own since 2009, the general said. In addition, the Air Force partners with the Iraqis in intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance platforms. The Iraqi military has a fledgling ISR capability that has, despite its newness, had significant operational successes.

“We partner with them at the squadron and on the ground, and in the operations center to integrate that ISR,” Handy said.

The Air Force element in Iraq partners with all levels of the Iraqi air force, from the air college in Tikrit to initial pilot training, “and just about everything in between,” the general said.

The American force does not partner with the Iraqis on fixed-wing close-air support, the general said, because the Iraqis do not have that capability yet.

Much remains to be done in Iraq, Handy said, but his command, too, will leave by the end of the year. He said he anticipates that the Office of Security Cooperation in the U.S. Embassy will continue to work with the Iraqi military as the Iraqi air force continues to grow.

Iraqi Military Capabilities Growing, General Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2011 – Iraq has the most capable counterinsurgency force in the Middle East and Central Asia, but its military still has a long way to go to defend the Iraqi people, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq said here today.

Iraq has a very capable army and growing air force and navy capabilities, Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

In 2003, there were no Iraqi security forces. “The size has increased from zero to 650,000 now,” Buchanan said. “They are equipped with very modern equipment, and they are training themselves.”

The Iraqis have the security lead in operations throughout the country, he said, and, by any measure, they are doing the job. The number of attacks per day and the number of casualties have decreased since the Iraqis took control. American forces still provide some capabilities, he noted, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, and they help with logistics and air support. Still, the Iraqis are developing those capabilities as well.

“This has been the fastest-growing military, with the highest [operations tempo] in the world for the last eight years,” Buchanan said. “By necessity, they have been focused almost entirely on internal threats -- fighting terrorism, fighting insurgents.”

But a security force has to do more than defend against internal threats, Buchanan noted. It must defend the country from external enemies and defend the nation’s sovereignty. “Only in the last two years has the Iraqi military looked at external threats,” he said. Iran shares a long border with Iraq, and Syria is another center of instability.

The Iraqi army is developing a force to defend the nation. Iraq now has 135 of 140 M-1 tanks. “Those tanks are on hand in Iraq, the crews are getting training, and they are getting some capability,” Buchanan said. The Iraqi army now also has 24 self-propelled 155 mm howitzers and 80 155 mm towed howitzers.

“But their ability to integrate the effects of artillery, armor, attack aviation with infantry against a conventional force is really at the beginning stages,” he noted. “This will take them some years to develop.”

Other aspects will take even more time, the general noted. The new Iraqi military has had seven years to develop a professional noncommissioned officer corps. “They have some great junior NCOs,” Buchanan said. Still, he added, it will take more time to develop those outstanding young NCOs into senior, battle-tested NCO leaders.

The United States is on track to leave Iraq by the end of the year, Buchanan said. Iraq and the United States signed a bilateral security agreement in 2008, and one of the articles of that agreement calls for the U.S. presence to transition completely to a civilian-led authority by the end of 2011. “This means that our troops would withdraw completely and USFI would fold its flag,” the general said.

At the same time, the United States and Iraq signed the Security Framework agreement, which charts a long-term, enduring partnership between the two countries. This covers everything from education, science and technology, to cultural exchanges, to defense and security cooperation. All this would fall under the control of the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

Iraq has signaled an intention to discuss keeping some American force in the country after the Dec. 31 withdrawal date. Iraqi military leaders are discussing their vulnerabilities and what they would need to fill the gaps.

Iraqi national leaders have pledged to begin discussing the process to request U.S. aid.

“On the military side we provide options up the chain so our civilian leaders can make the decisions,” Buchanan said. “The Iraqi government’s assessment of its own vulnerabilities mirrors ours.”

The gaps include little ability to integrate combined arms against conventional threats or external threats, little capability to defend Iraqi airspace, and maritime security shortcomings.

The United States can provide some of those capabilities, but the Iraqi government has to ask, Buchanan said. “The longer it takes, the more expensive and harder it is to accomplish,” he noted.

The U.S. mission hasn’t changed since Operation New Dawn began in September 2010: advise, train and assist Iraqi security forces; conduct partnered counterterrorism operations; and support and protect the civilian members of the U.S. mission in Iraq as they work to build civil capacity throughout the country.

Just more than four months are left for Operation New Dawn, and more of the U.S. effort will be focused on transitioning bases, redeploying equipment and re-posturing personnel. Progress has been going for some time. The United States had 505 bases in Iraq in 2008, and at the start of Operation New Dawn the number was down to 92. Today, there are 47.

U.S. forces in Iraq are ready to do what is necessary, Buchanan said. The effort has been worth it, he added. “The Iraqi people have made a number of sacrifices over the years,” he said. “They are building a set of values that didn’t exist there before. As it grows and matures, Iraq’s government will be better able to deliver what the people need -- a country that is stable, that is sovereign and self-reliant.

“It’s good for the people of Iraq, it’s good for the region, and it would be good for the United States as well.”

Bombings Bear Signs of al-Qaida in Iraq, General Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2011 – Bomb explosions that have killed at least 58 Iraqis today appear to be the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq said here today.

The explosions, similar to an attack launched in August last year, struck cities from Tikrit to Baghdad to Basra, with the largest loss of life in Kut.

The attacks are proof that Iraq remains a dangerous place, Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said.

“We haven’t seen claims for these attacks, but given the targets, the methods, it very much looks like al-Qaida’s work,” Buchanan said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

But though al-Qaeda in Iraq still can launch spectacular attacks, the general said, the organization’s membership, funding and freedom of movement have continued to decline.

At one time, he said, al-Qaida in Iraq was able to launch these attacks almost daily and posed an existential threat to the Iraqi government. Today, al-Qaida is a shadow or its former self, and even horrendous attacks like today’s do not represent a threat to the government, Buchanan said. “[Al-Qaida in Iraq] is between 800 to 1,000 members of all stripes, from financiers to smugglers to media people to fighters,” he added.

The terrorists remain dangerous, Buchanan said, but they have been under attack by U.S. and Iraqi forces, and have lost any support they had from the Iraqi people by their callous bombing campaign that kills fellow Muslims.

Al-Qaida in Iraq has never changed its ideology, the general noted, and Iraqis know this. “They will do anything they can and murder anyone to try to overthrow the government,” he said, “but they have very little support.”

The terror organization has lost its freedom of movement in the country, Buchanan said. At one time, he added, the terrorists were able to move from Mosul and Tikrit to throughout Anbar province, and in and around the suburbs of Baghdad. They had a network of supporters that gave them that mobility.

The group also has lost much of the funding stream it counted on in the past, Buchanan said, and reportedly has been robbing banks and gold stores to mount its operations.

Finally, he said, the stream of foreign fighters flowing in to Iraq over the Syrian border has almost dried up.

Face of Defense: Soldier Aids Iraqi Trainee

From a U.S. Division North News Release

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq, Aug. 2, 2011 – Soldiers learn a variety of skills, from basic drill and ceremony to combat operations, and each skill can serve an important role in their day-to-day lives.

Army Spc. Zachary Parker, a cannon crew member, used skills that may have saved the life of an Iraqi soldier assigned to the Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade at Manila Training Center, June 28.

Parker, assigned to the 1st Infantry Division’s Battery A, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, uses his knowledge of military tactics to train regional guard soldiers, teaching them to engage targets safely and maneuver the training area without injury.

“We looked at it as just another day hiking up and down the mountains toward the ranges to support the [Regional Guard Brigade],” said Parker, who calls New Gloucester, Maine, home.

During the culminating live-fire event, Parker noticed a trainee showing symptoms of becoming a heat casualty. He ran over mountainous terrain, pulled the soldier into a shady area and began administering first aid.

“It first felt like training back at the states -- just one of those lanes we have to go through," Parker said. "But then I realized that this was for real, and that this guy actually needed help.”

After treatment from Parker, the trainee recovered and went on to complete the day’s training exercises with his unit.

Officials of the 1st Advise and Assist Brigade said Parker’s actions exemplified the Army’s warrior spirit and his dedication to the partnership between U.S. forces and Iraqi forces in naming him "Ironhorse Strong" Soldier of the Week.

Deadline Nears for Iraqi Request, Mullen Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

MOSUL, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2011 – If Iraq wants American forces to remain to train and assist Iraqi security forces after Dec. 31, Iraqi leaders need to make the request soon, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

“The point is we’re at a deadline, and we need an answer,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to reporters traveling with him.

Iraqi leaders understand their security forces do not have all the capabilities needed to defend the country from insurgents or from outside nations, Mullen said, and they need to make a decision about accepting further help from U.S. forces. Under a security agreement between Iraq and the United States, all U.S. troops are to be out of the country by Dec. 31.

Mullen will meet with Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, and with service members with the 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th Advise and Assist Brigade here. He then will travel to Baghdad, where he is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talibani.

The chairman said it has been about a year since he visited Mosul.

“I want to have discussions about how it is going in the north,” he said aboard his plane en route here. “I get assessments all the time, but with the transition, we’re making substantial changes there on how we’re doing assisting and advising. I’m very anxious to understand from a ground perspective what’s going on.”

More broadly, Mullen added, he also wants to meet the American leaders and see how engagement with Iraqi counterparts is going and what the future holds.

“It’s pretty clear that we’ve said to the Iraqi leadership that now’s the time -- we have to know [if they are going to request a continuing U.S. presence],” he said. Roughly 48,000 U.S. personnel are working to train, advise and assist Iraqi army and police units. The logistics needed to get that number of personnel out by the deadline along with millions of pieces of equipment means the Iraqis need to make the decision soon, the chairman explained.

From the American standpoint, an Iraqi request would start negotiations. Any U.S. decision would have to consider the security environment in the country, what capabilities the Iraqis need and what the legal status of American forces would be, as well as the ability to protect U.S. service members. These considerations add to the urgency for a decision.

“The major issues in Iraq are political,” Mullen said. “They have to get together, and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

June was a bad month for U.S. personnel in Iraq, with 15 killed, mostly by Iranian-supplied weapons that include roadside bombs designed to pierce armored vehicles and improvised rocket-assisted munitions.

“You’ve seen in the last three weeks a dramatic reduction in attacks on U.S. personnel,” Mullen said. “The key to me is that reduction has to be sustained. There are several pieces to this reduction which include our operations, the [Iraqi security forces] operations and operations with them or in support of them, and the political piece of this, which has been very strongly expressed. There very clearly have been operations, and there are ongoing operations.”

Iran remains a problem for Iraqi and American forces in the country. U.S. officials traced explosives killing American forces in June directly to Iran.

“It’s clear from the U.S. perspective that whatever Iraq’s decision, there’s a commitment on the part of the United States to a long-term commitment to sustain a stable, growing, healthy Iraq,” the chairman said.

Face of Defense: Soldier Sees Progress in Iraq

By Army Spc. Kandi Huggins

U.S. Division North

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq, July 26, 2011 – Since the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, thousands of soldiers have witnessed progress throughout their deployments to Iraq.

For Army Sgt. Kevin Chapman, a squad leader with the 1st Infantry Division’s Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, being a part of the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn has shaped his career as a soldier.

Chapman said he always wanted to serve in the armed forces, and enlisted in the Army in 2005.

“I joined the Army to try to make a difference for my country,” the Conyers, Ga., native said. “I knew it was something I could make a career out of and do for the rest of my life.”

From 2005 to 2007, Chapman said, he was as a gunner for the mortar platoon with the 1st Armored Division’s 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, from Friedberg, Germany. He later was tasked as the radio and telephone operator in the fire direction center.

After the deployment, Chapman was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he currently serves.

After deploying twice during the middle and latter parts of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Chapman said, his current Iraq tour in support of Operation New Dawn is different because of U.S. forces’ current role to advise Iraqi security forces.

“During my first deployment we did presence patrols and terrain denial,” said Chapman. “We would go out to show we were there, and we were a force. We were more aggressive during [my first tour], and we didn’t work directly with the [Iraqi forces].”

Chapman said he saw the transition in operations begin during his second deployment in 2008.

“In 2008 and 2009, I witnessed transition,” he said. “After the agreements between the U.S. and Iraq, we had to have an [Iraqi] counterpart with us, and we worked closely with them, training them on how to shoot mortars.

“Instead of being the dominant force and telling them what to do and how to do it,” he added, “we asked for suggestions and their opinions on the training we gave.”

U.S. and Iraqi forces cooperated and combined strengths to develop training and mission schedules, while Iraqis took the lead, Chapman said.

Army Spc. John Charles, one of Chapman’s squad members, said prior experiences definitely influence Chapman’s ability to be a great leader.

“He gets a lot of responsibility dumped on him, more than anybody else, and he handles it with a sense of humor and a pride about him that I’ve not seen from another soldier,” said Charles, a Houston native.

Chapman consistently performs above his current rank, Charles added.

Now, with the mission of an advise and assist task force, Chapman said it is important for U.S. forces to teach the Iraqi forces to maintain an active presence in their country.

“We want them to take the reins, step in and continue taking over everything we do,” Chapman said. “It’s important for us to teach and show them, and hopefully when we leave, they will be better able to utilize the training we’ve given them, and it will continue making them better.”