13 January 2005
Defense Dept. Report, January 13: Iraq, Relief, Missile Defense
Pentagon spokesman says missile defense will improve over time
NO TIMELINE FOR DURATION OF HIGH LEVEL OF U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ
Defense Department spokesman Larry Di Rita says there is no deadline against which to measure the number of U.S. military forces that will need to remain in Iraq.
U.S. forces are projected to grow to around 150,000 with the approach of the January 30 parliamentary elections in Iraq. How long the force will need to remain at that level? "Only time will tell," he told reporters at the Pentagon January 13.
Army Brigadier General David Rodriguez, deputy director for regional operations, spoke along with Di Rita, saying factors such as the virulence of the Iraqi insurgency and associated levels of violence must be factored into any decision about how many U.S. forces are needed in Iraq and for how long.
Di Rita also directed attention to a briefing transmitted to the Pentagon from northern Iraq earlier on January 13, in which Army Major General John Batiste complimented the work Iraqi security forces are doing in preparation for the elections.
Batiste, who is commander of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division, said achieving a prosperous and democratic Iraq depends on the nation's "ability to maintain a safe and secure environment." He said there is a team effort underway involving Iraq's security forces, the independent Iraqi electoral commission, provincial leaders, the directors of joint coordination centers, and U.S. forces -- all of whom are working together "to set the conditions for Iraq's historic elections."
Daily, Batiste said, Iraqi security forces are maturing with the collaboration of the Iraqi Army, police, and Department of Border Enforcement all demonstrating an "ability to carry out their mission while relying less ... on their coalition partners."
Iraqi government civic, tribal and religious leaders are working together with indigenous security forces, he said, and they "have achieved irreversible momentum towards prosperity and representative government."
Iraqi forces know where all the polling stations are located and have developed the means to secure them, Batiste said. U.S. forces have worked with them in advance of the pending election, so they know exactly how to keep the election stations safe for prospective voters, he added.
"We have been working hard for several months now in each of the four provinces of North Central Iraq," said Batiste, who is also responsible for security in that region. He said his 25,000 soldiers will continue to work with their Iraqi security counterparts "to make sure that what they're doing makes sense" and to provide quick-reaction forces if needed.
On the subject of pressure to delay provincial elections in Kirkuk, Batiste said that is a decision to be made by the sovereign Interim Iraqi Government in consultation with the Iraqi independent election committee.
A transcript of Batiste's briefing may be read on the Internet at http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050113-1981.html
For additional information on the upcoming Iraqi elections, go to "Iraq Elections: A Vote for Democracy" at http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/middle_east_north_africa/iraq/Iraq_Elections_A_Vote_for_Democracy.html
U.S. COMMANDER IS SATISFIED WITH ACCESS FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS
Di Rita was also asked a number of questions related to U.S. military humanitarian relief operations in Southeast Asia. He was particularly pressed on the subject of whether the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln may have to move out of the area soon.
The Pentagon spokesman said the local U.S. military commander is satisfied with "air space management for training and access for relief operations."
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said U.S. military humanitarian forces are in the region to support host-nation requirements, and they will leave when their military capabilities are no longer needed.
The United States continues to coordinate on relief matters with relevant host nations, Rodriguez added.
MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES CONTINUE TO BE REFINED
Di Rita was questioned about the status of the U.S. missile defense program. He said the focus is on "continuing to improve it."
He described it as "a spiral development program," meaning its defensive capabilities to thwart a limited incoming ballistic missile attack continue to be developed and tested.
Asked about a string of less than stellar test performances in recent years, the spokesman answered, "the system is what it is." Di Rita went on to say that the missile defense program will improve over time.
While the missile defense system has some capabilities now, he said rather than declaring the system as operational, the higher priority is to conduct further testing.
Additional information about the program may be viewed on the Web at http://www.acq.osd.mil/mda/mdalink/html/mdalink.html
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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