U.S. Forces to Take on Different Role in Iraq, Officials Say

American Forces Press Service ^ | Dec 22, 2005 | Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2005 – As Iraqi security forces grow and develop increased combat capabilities, U.S. forces will shift from a focus on combat operations to a focus on supporting the Iraqis as they take the lead in operations, two Defense Department officials said at a Pentagon news briefing today. American units already are partnering with Iraqi units, helping them with training, logistics, and other combat support operations, said Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, operations director on the Joint Staff. This partnering will continue, with an increased focus on developing the Iraqis' combat support capabilities so they eventually will be able to function independently, he said.

Transition teams that assist Iraqi units will increasingly be made up of senior noncommissioned officers and officers who are more technically oriented and can provide the Iraqis with specific training, Conway said.

"They also are assigned responsibilities for the continued maturation and professionalism of the Iraqis, so that as they become more and more capable, we are then able to bring our units home," he said.

As the Iraqis develop these capabilities, more U.S. engineer and logistics units will deploy instead of combat units to help the Iraqi units function, said Larry Di Rita, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for public affairs.

The Iraqi units, meanwhile, will take on more routine combat duties, such as cordon-and-knock operations, patrols and sweeps, Conway said. The first example of this new Iraqi-U.S. relationship was during the operations in Tal Afar in November, he said, when Iraqi troops outnumbered coalition troops and took the lead in operations.

[SandRat]

A look to next year's operation by our troops

[partyrepub]

Why since the election havent we heard about american casualties? Have we had any lately? Or are things getting that much better?

[MarkeyD]

I was wondering that too. I've heard of 2, one was today. Probably more, just not being reported.

[partyrepub]

Well every american that dies is a heart break to me...But to the media is another way to slam My president. But now that things are looking up dont hear much...Thanks main kamf media...

[SandRat]

There have been a couple, I suspect the media has forgotten Iraq for now in the feeding frenzy over the NSA Spying story and the Patriot Act Senate show.

[partyrepub]

That is what i was thinking to...They smell blood in the water , and are circling.. But i think Pres.Bush will clown them all like usual...Make the liberals look like what they are kooks..

[Southack]

The insurgents peaked in November of 2004 (the timing was no coincidence). They rallied, but not to that level, in January of this year.

They've been unable to match their earlier damage, which points to their inability to recruit local Iraqis to their cause.

Keep in mind that Iraqis voted at 60% of the population in their January 2005 election, 63% in their October 2005 vote, and 70+% in their election this month...which is to say that the Iraqis are choosing a side, and it isn't the side of the insurgency.

The voting percentage trend on our side makes the above statement just as powerfully as the decline in insurgency lethality does for the other side.

Military Fatalities: By Month

Period	US	UK	Other*	Total	Avg	Days
12-2005	46	0	0	46	2.09	22
11-2005	84	1	1	86	2.87	30
10-2005	96	2	1	99	3.19	31
9-2005	49	3	0	52	1.73	30
8-2005	85	0	0	85	2.74	31
7-2005	54	3	1	58	1.87	31
6-2005	78	1	4	83	2.77	30
5-2005	80	2	6	88	2.84	31
4-2005	52	0	0	52	1.73	30
3-2005	36	1	3	40	1.29	31
2-2005	58	0	2	60	2.14	28
1-2005	107	10	10	127	4.1	31
12-2004	72	1	3	76	2.45	31
11-2004	137	4	0	141	4.7	30
10-2004	63	2	2	67	2.16	31
9-2004	80	3	4	87	2.9	30
8-2004	66	4	5	75	2.42	31
7-2004	54	1	3	58	1.87	31
6-2004	42	1	7	50	1.67	30
5-2004	80	0	4	84	2.71	31
4-2004	135	0	5	140	4.67	30
3-2004	52	0	0	52	1.68	31
2-2004	20	1	2	23	0.79	29
1-2004	47	5	0	52	1.68	31
12-2003	40	0	8	48	1.55	31
11-2003	82	1	27	110	3.67	30
10-2003	44	1	2	47	1.52	31
9-2003	31	1	1	33	1.1	30
8-2003	35	6	2	43	1.39	31
7-2003	48	1	0	49	1.58	31
6-2003	30	6	0	36	1.2	30
5-2003	37	4	0	41	1.32	31
4-2003	74	6	0	80	2.67	30
3-2003	65	27	0	92	7.67	12
Total	2159	98	103	2360	2.34	1009

[SandRat]

What do you mean just look like kooks? They are KOOKS!

[Dog]

Cap Huff and I were discussing recently how quiet Zarqawi has become not a peep in over a month...seems he went dark right after that Mosul raid...in which it was thought he was whacked.

[MikefromOhio]

yep it was really hairy for a bit when I returned from my vacation in November.

But let's also remember that the Marines cleared out Fallujah again in November, right after the election, so the numbers might be spiked a bit.

[partyrepub]

I was thinking the same thing. I think he may be with OSAMA Sleeping with the fish! LOL

[Wiseghy]

Next comes the touchy issue of CAS for total Iraqi forces. No problem, until someone vectors in a JDAM on someone they shouldn't.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"... how quiet Zarqawi has become ..."

Probably hoping the Jordanians forget about him.

[Marine_Uncle]

Sounds good to me.

[Southack]

"Cap Huff and I were discussing recently how quiet Zarqawi has become not a peep in over a month...seems he went dark right after that Mosul raid...in which it was thought he was whacked."

For our side, there is merit in saying that Zarqawi is alive (or "unknown") even if we know that he is dead...

...because the decentralized cell structure of Al Qaeda makes it problematic for *their* side to confirm or refute that sort of thing.

And the longer that cells go without hearing from the leadership, the lower goes their morale and operational effectiveness.

They start having doubts about their cause...especially as various Sunni tribes cut great (yes, **GREAT**) deals to switch sides.

They start wondering if Zarqawi has fled the field as a coward. They start taking Zawahiri's criticism of Zarqawi's hostage beheadings more and more seriously.

And perhaps a few of the more mercenary of their bunch begin fantasizing about that $25 million reward for Zarqawi's head...money that would make any one of them an instant power player on the level of a Saudi sheik.

Likewise, watching the Americans stand firm and the Iraqi populace embrace the elections has got to be discouraging to the jihadists.

Nor can they point to any good news on the battlefield. Their efforts grow less and less lethal over time, after all.

Zarqawi, if still alive, could send a message to let his troops know that he's still alive, but what's he going to promise them?! Some big offensive?! No. Some new ally?! No.

Moreover, he risks American/Allied success in finding him with every message (always a trail). Ditto for being betrayed by one of his own turned mercenary...the switched Sunni tribes already being prime for that $25 million reward money on Zman's head.

In short, Al Qaeda sees nothing but bad news for their side, and their leader in Iraq, if still alive, has nothing to really say to them...though going without saying anything will cost him as his desertions grow during radio silence.

[Southack]

"But let's also remember that the Marines cleared out Fallujah again in November, right after the election, so the numbers might be spiked a bit."

That was a great rat trap. They flocked to the one place where they publicly held ground...and were killed en masse.

A thing of great beauty. Adults should embrace the true, the good, and the beautiful. That operation was all three.

[MikefromOhio]

Yes sir.

[Cap Huff]

Zarqawi has not, to my knowledge, been heard from in recent days. Some communication may be out there and known to his people and to our guys, but it has not hit the open sources.

This story just coming out suggests that AQ may be trying to start things up again:

10 Iraqi soldiers killed in checkpoint attack

The following line is certainly trying to give the impression that the attack was AQ rather than Baathist holdouts or some other element:

"The area around Adhaim has seen previous attacks credited to Islamist militants linked to Al Qaeda, including mass infantry assaults on Iraqi Army and police posts."

[AmericaUnite]

Sounds like they could have used some of our air support. Too bad. Sounds like we could have gotten a lot of bad guys.