Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
USA Today
November 7, 2007
Pg. 16
Plan calls for cut of 4- 5 battalions; some could go elsewhere in Iraq, others home
By Jim Michaels, USA Today
WASHINGTON — The U.S. command in Anbar province has plans that could cut one-third of the coalition's combat battalions by next spring, reflecting improved security in what was among the deadliest regions in Iraq.
"We'll see forces start to rotate out pretty soon," said Marine Brig. Gen. John Allen, deputy commander of Multi-National Force-West. "We'll be significantly smaller this time next year."
The plan is based on successes against al-Qaeda and improved capabilities of Iraqi security forces in the region, Allen said, rather than any pressure to reduce U.S. forces.
Allen said the current plan could lead to a reduction of four or five battalions. There are a total of 13 battalions, including Army and Marine units, in the province. Battalions are generally about 1,000 troops.
Some of the Army battalions could be sent elsewhere in Iraq. Marine battalions would have completed their tours and would return home without being replaced, if the plan goes into effect.
"They're not a peace dividend," Allen said. "There's a lot of work still to be done in that province."
There are thousands of support troops in the area in addition to the combat battalions. Altogether, there are about 36,000 U.S. troops in Anbar.
The command said it expects the province will be turned over to Iraqi control in March, a sign that the region's governance and security forces have matured.
Eight of Iraq's 18 provinces have been returned to Iraqi control, according to the coalition headquarters in Baghdad.
U.S. combat deaths in Anbar have dropped to an average of about one per week since June from about one a day for the same period last year, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon data.
Allen was in Washington recently with Anbar Gov. Maamoun Sami Rashid al-Awani, who met with President Bush last week. The governor said he was in the United States in an effort to attract investment and build cultural ties.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has said the overall troop levels will return to about 130,000 by next summer, the size of the force before Bush ordered 30,000 additional troops into Iraq earlier this year.
Petraeus has said troop levels beyond that will depend on conditions.
Anbar could serve as an example for other regions. As local security forces grow in capabilities and win popular support, combat troops will withdraw in phases.
Advisers and other troops will remain to support local soldiers and police.
"The one thing that can't happen as we move off the battlefield is a loss of security," Allen said.
Commanders are discussing whether to keep U.S. combat forces dispersed as they draw down or concentrated to be used as reaction forces. Either way, teams of U.S. advisers will remain with Iraqi security forces.
The changes in Anbar are a turnaround for a province that looked dire as recently as a year ago. In a speech talking about progress in Ramadi, the provincial capital, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged the city "was written off as lost" last year.
The region remained violent through last year. The governor has survived 30 assassination attempts.
The change in Anbar was fueled primarily by a shift in attitudes that started with a handful of tribal leaders and spread rapidly throughout the province.
U.S. commanders said the tribal leaders, or sheiks, were tired of al-Qaeda's intimidation and brutality. The sheiks encouraged their followers to join the police, swelling the ranks of local security forces. The trend picked up momentum this year.
Today, there are about 24,000 local police in the province. "Once the sheiks all decided that their sons could serve in the police and in the army, that just changed everything," Allen said.
The strategy presents a risk. The alliances may not be lasting and the tribes could turn on coalition forces or Iraq's Shiite-dominated government as al-Qaeda is diminished in power.
"We should recognize that what has emerged is a tactical alliance of convenience," said Michael Eisenstadt, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who has written on the military's tribal engagement policy.
But U.S. commanders say local security forces have proved their loyalties in taking on insurgents.
"We have many incidents in the past three or four months where they ran into insurgents, stood toe to toe with them and defeated them," said Marine Col. Stacy Clardy, commander of Regimental Combat Team 2 in western Anbar.
Contributing: Paul Overberg
November 7, 2007
Pg. 16
Plan calls for cut of 4- 5 battalions; some could go elsewhere in Iraq, others home
By Jim Michaels, USA Today
WASHINGTON — The U.S. command in Anbar province has plans that could cut one-third of the coalition's combat battalions by next spring, reflecting improved security in what was among the deadliest regions in Iraq.
"We'll see forces start to rotate out pretty soon," said Marine Brig. Gen. John Allen, deputy commander of Multi-National Force-West. "We'll be significantly smaller this time next year."
The plan is based on successes against al-Qaeda and improved capabilities of Iraqi security forces in the region, Allen said, rather than any pressure to reduce U.S. forces.
Allen said the current plan could lead to a reduction of four or five battalions. There are a total of 13 battalions, including Army and Marine units, in the province. Battalions are generally about 1,000 troops.
Some of the Army battalions could be sent elsewhere in Iraq. Marine battalions would have completed their tours and would return home without being replaced, if the plan goes into effect.
"They're not a peace dividend," Allen said. "There's a lot of work still to be done in that province."
There are thousands of support troops in the area in addition to the combat battalions. Altogether, there are about 36,000 U.S. troops in Anbar.
The command said it expects the province will be turned over to Iraqi control in March, a sign that the region's governance and security forces have matured.
Eight of Iraq's 18 provinces have been returned to Iraqi control, according to the coalition headquarters in Baghdad.
U.S. combat deaths in Anbar have dropped to an average of about one per week since June from about one a day for the same period last year, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon data.
Allen was in Washington recently with Anbar Gov. Maamoun Sami Rashid al-Awani, who met with President Bush last week. The governor said he was in the United States in an effort to attract investment and build cultural ties.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has said the overall troop levels will return to about 130,000 by next summer, the size of the force before Bush ordered 30,000 additional troops into Iraq earlier this year.
Petraeus has said troop levels beyond that will depend on conditions.
Anbar could serve as an example for other regions. As local security forces grow in capabilities and win popular support, combat troops will withdraw in phases.
Advisers and other troops will remain to support local soldiers and police.
"The one thing that can't happen as we move off the battlefield is a loss of security," Allen said.
Commanders are discussing whether to keep U.S. combat forces dispersed as they draw down or concentrated to be used as reaction forces. Either way, teams of U.S. advisers will remain with Iraqi security forces.
The changes in Anbar are a turnaround for a province that looked dire as recently as a year ago. In a speech talking about progress in Ramadi, the provincial capital, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged the city "was written off as lost" last year.
The region remained violent through last year. The governor has survived 30 assassination attempts.
The change in Anbar was fueled primarily by a shift in attitudes that started with a handful of tribal leaders and spread rapidly throughout the province.
U.S. commanders said the tribal leaders, or sheiks, were tired of al-Qaeda's intimidation and brutality. The sheiks encouraged their followers to join the police, swelling the ranks of local security forces. The trend picked up momentum this year.
Today, there are about 24,000 local police in the province. "Once the sheiks all decided that their sons could serve in the police and in the army, that just changed everything," Allen said.
The strategy presents a risk. The alliances may not be lasting and the tribes could turn on coalition forces or Iraq's Shiite-dominated government as al-Qaeda is diminished in power.
"We should recognize that what has emerged is a tactical alliance of convenience," said Michael Eisenstadt, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who has written on the military's tribal engagement policy.
But U.S. commanders say local security forces have proved their loyalties in taking on insurgents.
"We have many incidents in the past three or four months where they ran into insurgents, stood toe to toe with them and defeated them," said Marine Col. Stacy Clardy, commander of Regimental Combat Team 2 in western Anbar.
Contributing: Paul Overberg