Thanks for the info. As always, I think a lot of these conflicting press reports are just speculation. I suppose we’ll just have to see where we are in 6months. The UK government is still maintaining that withdrawals will be conditions based and that, by the end of next Spring, UK forces will still have the capability to intervene in support of Iraqi forces.
Just out of interest, what’s the situation with Karbala? I believe that a month or so ago 50 people were gunned down there in militia fighting. I have heard that it has just been handed by the US back to the Iraqis? Was this to exploit Al-Sadr’s 6 month cease-fire?
Reporting is definately contridictory on Basrah. The reinforcement until next rotation in Jun makes much more sense operationaly. Gives 14th IA the extra 6mo it needs to get stood up. The last IA Bde for 14th (4-14) is due to form Mid-2008.
The US hasn’t been based in Karbala for months. The IA and INP augmented the local forces after the last problem with JAM and they stood up a Karbala Operations Command to coordinate. The only assist that they needed was some air recon and part of that was done with IZAF ISR assets. Diwaniyah is the problem area with JAM these days in MND-C, Karbala is dialed down.
Note: Sadr City is getting its own IA Bde (3-11) assigned to it in Dec. With the ISOF and Coalition SOF targeting of “rogue” JAM/Special Groups, I keep wondering how long the “cease-fire” will last.
Five new IA Bdes and another Div HQ are to be formed by Mid-2008.
The IA is going to 13 Divs, 52 Bdes, and 156 line Bns by early-2009. Artl Rgts start in 2009.
Bootcamp thruput is up to ~108,000 per year. (Minus 20-25,000 for attrition) By comparison, the US recruits 80,000/yr to maintain 500,000 in Army. Gives you an idea where the IA is planning to grow to...