Seminar addresses Iraqi security challenges

ARNEWS ^ | Staff Sgt. Lucia Newman

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, May 1, 2006) – The Iraqi National Security Agency hosted a command and control seminar April 26 and 27 to examine the processes used by the Iraqi government and Coalition forces when responding to Iraqi security threats.

Iraqi National Security Advisor Dr. Muwafaq al-Rubaie and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld attended the seminar.

"This seminar demonstrates the importance of the appropriate command and control procedures as the Iraqi security forces assume more responsibility, and our gathering demonstrates a sense of great progress," Rumsfeld said. "This country has every opportunity to succeed and a lot of people around the world are hoping and pushing for the success of Iraq."

The seminar hosted about 50 government officials who discussed potential challenges the new government of Iraq will face in the upcoming months.

Rubaie said the progress the departments have made thus far can be attributed to the efforts of the Coalition forces.

"You have overthrown one of the most brutal dictatorships of mankind and the Iraqi people will be ever so grateful," he told Iraqi and Coalition forces. "Two days that will forever be in the Iraqi people’s minds – the day Coalition forces sacrificed for the democracy and freedom of Iraq, and the day you are able to return home safely to your family and friends."

Iraqis will assume full responsibility

On the first day of the seminar, Ministry of Defense officials spoke about the affiliation between Iraqi Armed Forces the Iraqi government, and their hierarchy in relation to provincial Iraqi control.

Provincial Iraqi control is the process by which Iraqi civil authorities will gradually take full responsibility for the security of each province until the entire country reorganizes under the civil control of the Iraqi provincial governors.

"It’s expected that as the Iraqi military and police force capabilities increase, certain provinces will fall under provincial Iraqi control," said Col. Bill Hickman, MNSTC-I operations officer. "Which means the governors will take full responsibility for securing their provinces."

Coalition forces, in conjunction with Iraqi Security Forces, currently provide security in the provinces of Iraq. The change in provincial control, which is expected to start this summer, brings new challenges to the efficiency of the decision-making relationship within the Iraqi government.

The second day highlighted security operations for the Ministry of Interior.

"One of their challenges will be working with provincial police," Hickman said. "The key is for them to build a working relationship before a crisis occurs."

Discussions covered the procedure to incorporate federal forces – or Iraqi Army and National Police – into a crisis involving local authorities.

Hickman said these are just a few of the challenges the departments will face.

The seminar was the first of four to be held over the next two months. By the end of May, a joint command post exercise, or CPX, will take place to implement proposals from the seminars.

The CPX is just the beginning of an end to reducing Coalition force presence in Iraq, according to Rubaie.

"By the end of this year we hope to see a sizeable reduction with troop presence in Iraq," said the Iraqi national security advisor. "We have a definite plan for condition-based agreement between Iraqi Security Forces and the U.S. government to gradually assume responsibility and battle space for Iraq within the next couple of years."

(Editor's note: Staff Sgt. Lucia Newman writes for the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Public Affairs Office.)

[SandRat]

Now for the Iraqi National Security Advisor to turn talk into action.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Now for the Iraqi National Security Advisor to turn talk into action."
You got that one nailed. At least new mechanisms are being put into place that will lead to them gaining total control over the insurgency. Many good signs flashing of lately.