Multi-National Force - Iraq
Multi-National Force-Iraq conducts offensive operations to defeat remaining non-compliant forces and neutralize destabilizing influences in Iraq in order to create a secure environment. Multi-National Force - Iraq organizes, trains, equips, mentors, and certifies credible and capable Iraqi security forces in order to transition responsibility for security from coalition forces to Iraqi forces. Concurrently, conducts stability operations to support the establishment of government, the restoration of essential services, and economic development in order to set the conditions for a transfer of sovereignty to designated follow-on authorities.
Multi-National Force - Iraq was "stood-up" on May 15, 2004, due concerns that had existed for some period of time, that the Combined Joint Task Force 7 headquarters, was not sufficient to handle the range of military operations in Iraq, including peace support, civil military operations, and at the same time conduct strategic engagement such as talking to the sheiks and talking to the political authorities. Those are typically functions that are performed by two different headquarters. Two new commands, Multi-National Force - Iraq and Multi-National Corps - Iraq, were formed to resolve these concerns.
Congressional testimony on May 13, 2004 indicated that after 30 June 2004 the US forces in Iraq will report to the US commander of the Multinational Force - Iraq, who will report to the President through the military chain of command. This information appears to be somewhat inaccurate as the command was activated on May 15 and replaced CJTF-7.
This command was said to be a four-star multinational command able to provide greater command and control capacity, not only for coalition forces but also for Iraqi forces over time. As of May 17, 2004 it is not clear if this command will be led by a four-star general, as all available information indicates that Lt. General Ricardo S. Sanchez, who headed CJTF-7, will lead MNF-I.
Multi-National Force - Iraq organizes, trains, equips, mentors, and certifies credible and capable Iraqi security forces in order to transition responsibility for security from coalition forces to Iraqi forces. Concurrently, conducts stability operations to support the establishment of government, the restoration of essential services, and economic development in order to set the conditions for a transfer of sovereignty to designated follow-on authorities.
