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Metz leads troops in Iraq through transition

Army News Service

By Master Sgt. Karen Petitt

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, June 28, 2004) - Leading more than 127,000 U.S. troops through a transition of authority from Coalition forces to the Interim Iraqi Government is more of an art than a science says the commanding general for Multinational Corps-Iraq.

Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz said that art comes in the delicate balance of reassigning resources for changing priorities, providing security, and working with the Iraqis to rebuild their infrastructure.

"For some of our troops the . transfer of power will not change their day-to-day mission, but for others it will be a very visible shift in focus," he said. "We will definitely see an increase in our efforts to help Iraq become more secure and much of our effort will be behind the scenes. We're looking to the Iraqi people to take the lead in many areas, but it's not all going to happen by July 1. It's a capacity that we will have to grow over the next several months."

He said the transition means that the Coalition force is now a partner to Iraq and that MNC-I will continue to conduct operations against anti-Iraqi forces. As time passes, the Iraqi Security Force will communicate their readiness to take the lead and Coalition forces will begin to draw back, he said.

While the command has been instrumental in restoring electricity, building sewage treatment facilities, re-opening schools and numerous other civic projects, its No. 1 concern is the security of Iraq.

"The biggest gain we'll have after the transition I believe will be the amount of human intelligence we're able to gather," said Metz. "With Iraqis taking the lead I think we'll see a greater amount of success in rooting out these thugs, criminals, former regime members and insurgents. Our ticket out of here is a safe and secure Iraq, and this transition brings us one step closer."

Joint Coordination Centers are being set up in provinces throughout Iraq, Metz said, and security committees will oversee the safety of their areas. There will be some Coalition presence in these JCCs, he said, but only for training and coordinating. Some forward operating bases will be realigned or closed, but the Coalition will always maintain the capability to re-enter an area full-strength should the need arise, Metz added.

One indicator of achieving a safe and secure Iraq will be if the national elections scheduled for January can be done without violence, Metz said. The general said having armed guards at every polling place as Iraqis scamper in to vote is not a successful campaign. There needs to be security, yes, but it shouldn't resemble a battle zone, he explained.

"If we can achieve that right balance of security and freedom," Metz said, "then we have achieved success here. We will continue to stay as long as we're needed. As the ISF takes the lead, they're becoming victim to more attacks. We'll be here to help protect them until the threat is eliminated."

Metz, who took command of MNC-I May 15, said that he appreciates the hard work and dedication of Coalition members during this time.

"I'm proud of [the Coalition members] professionalism and discipline," he said. "We put you in complex situations and your work has strategic importance. Together we can accomplish this mission safely and ensure freedom prevails."