BRIEFING BY BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD ALSTON (USAF), DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, MULTINATIONAL FORCE IRAQ
Multi-National Force-Iraq
BRIEFING BY BRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD ALSTON (USAF), DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, MULTINATIONAL FORCE IRAQ TOPIC: CONTINUING OPERATIONS IN IRAQ DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2006
GEN. ALSTON: (Speaks a phrase in Arabic.)
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us today. Before taking your questions, I'd like to take a few minutes to talk about ongoing operations and the trends we're seeing from the insurgency, and then some brief highlights from 2005.
Could I have the first chart, please?
Operation National Unity continues in Baghdad to disrupt insurgent activity and ensure a secure environment for the seating of the new Iraqi government.
Q (Off mike.)
GEN. ALSTON: Is this working okay?
Q (Off mike.) GEN. ALSTON: Okay. Do we have a technical problem?
STAFF: (Off mike.)
GEN. ALSTON: Okay. Let me say that again. Operational -- Operation National Unity continues in Baghdad, to disrupt insurgent activity and ensure a secure environment for the seating of the new Iraqi government. As Iraqi security forces continue to grow in capability and size, now numbering more than 223,000, they are conducting more and more successful independent operations throughout Iraq, including Baghdad.
These operations have resulted in an 11 percent decrease from last week in all attack types across Baghdad and led to the killing or capturing of several al Qaeda in Iraq-associated terrorists involved in VBIED and IED construction.
Coalition and security forces continue Operation Karaten (sp) in the area of Diyala and Salahuddin provinces in the north. While aiming to neutralize insurgent activity and establish a safe and secure environment, Iraqi security forces in this area are becoming increasingly independent. As of the 1st of November, successful operations have resulted in more than 700 insurgents being detained and more than 120 weapons caches found and cleared.
The proven success of the Iraqi security forces has led to strong public support in the region and a corresponding drop for support for al Qaeda in Iraq.
This is evident in that 50 percent of all IEDs found and cleared in the Kirkuk area last week were a direct result of tips from citizens. This type of citizen involvement in neighborhoods and cities across the country exposes the enemies of Iraq, decreases their ability to survive and ultimately leads to reduced levels of violence.
Operation Sayyid II has come to a close in the Western Euphrates River Valley, following the successful national election. Coalition and Iraqi forces conducted several named operations in Al Anbar and established numerous firm bases, forward operating bases, camps and combat outposts, which are now acting as distribution centers for logistics and increasing the command and controllability for the persistent Iraqi security force presence in the area.
It was that Iraqi security force presence that enabled such a large increase in voter turnout in the area from January's election. It is now estimated that over 1,055,000 voters turned out in Western Iraq and took part in the democratic process, ensuring they will have a stake in forming their country's future.
Next chart, please.
Democracy is taking hold throughout Iraq, and the political process is succeeding. However, Zarqawi is still out there, and he and the insurgents still have the same mission: to disrupt the political process, even if it's to be done in the final stages, and to discredit the Iraqi government. We're working through a transition period right now, as we begin to shift from the interim government to the constitutionally elected, four-year permanent government. As the newly elected government of Iraq comes together to tackle the tough issues ahead, those wanting to see democracy fail will see this as yet another opportunity to attack, attempting to discredit and derail the progress being made by the Iraqi people.
This chart shows attack trends for the same time period for all three major political events this year. The January elections are in yellow, the October referendum is in green, and the December 15th elections are in red. It also depicts, in some regards, the tactics of the enemy.
As you can see by the yellow spikes in January, the enemy attempted to derail the political process through a violent surge on the days directly surrounding the elections, basically attacking the election itself. Not only were they unsuccessful in their attempt to prevent the start of democracy; we also believe that due to that surge, enemy resources were depleted, causing them to be unable to sustain high levels of attacks in the days following.
In contrast, we saw little surge activity during the October referendum and the December elections. Rather, there was a shift in tactics as they conducted attacks at a consistent level in the weeks leading up to and following those dates.
Just as we expected and what we saw for the referendum, once election security measures were lifted, attacks increased. We're seeing that now as well. However, the insurgency, even without the surge, is showing little capacity to sustain numerous and persistent elevated attack levels.
This diminishing capability can be attributed to three things. The first is the joint offensive operations that have been launched by coalition forces and Iraqi security forces over the course of the last several months; all of which were focused on defeating terrorists and foreign fighters and disrupting the insurgency. Those operations were accomplished with great effect.
The second factor is the progressive training and equipping of the Iraqi security forces. They continue to grow with phenomenal capabilities. Today, there are 223,000 trained and equipped members of the Iraqi security force. They make great contributions to and are in large part responsible for the safe and secure environment of the December 15th elections.
The third factor is active Sunni participation in the political process. The choice of ballots over bullets was a very positive development.
These three factors enabled safe and secure elections. And as a positive sign -- as positive a sign as it was, there are still terrorists in Iraq committed to destroying what the people of Iraq are building. So increasingly, powerful Iraqi forces with support from coalition forces will continue focused operations to eliminate the terrorists and enable an environment in which freedom and democracy can prosper.
The key to the free future of Iraq is the -- is its ability to provide for its own security. Tremendous steps have been made in the training and operational capability of the Iraqi army and police force.
Could I have the next chart, please?
The ability of the Iraqi security forces to provide security at the borders, to counter the insurgency and to fight terrorist forces has greatly improved over the past year. At the start, Iraqi security forces numbered a little more than 127,000. In just 12 months, as you can see in this chart, we have seen the Iraqi security forces increase 77 percent to total now more than 223,000 people. That's more than 105,000 soldiers, sailors and air men who have now been trained and equipped and a total of 118,000 highly professional police forces dedicated to defending the Iraq of today and tomorrow.
The world watched in 2005 as the number of Iraqi units able to take the lead in combat operations against the insurgency increased. There are now over 120 Iraqi army and special operations battalions conducting combat operations against the enemy, and more than a third of them are assessed as being in the lead defending Iraq and protecting the process of democracy. A year ago, there were none.
The coming year will bring great challenges and opportunities across Iraq, and the citizens of Iraq can continue to count on their security forces to take on more and more responsibility as the nation moves towards self-reliance.
And with that, I am happy to take your questions.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) By the name of God -- (name inaudible) -- from Al-Masar. You said now that you have performed a big number of military operations, and certainly, many innocent people have been killed during these operations, together with a lot of Iraqis and Americans.
And what is the benefit of these military operations? When you capture the terrorists, what do you do for them after that? Do you release them as you did with Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash and the others?
GEN. ALSTON: Let me answer that question two different ways. I -- we believe that the loss of life during any combat operations -- or any time, for that matter -- is tragic. It is unfortunate that the terrorists and the insurgency are putting the people of Iraq at risk and putting innocent Iraqis in the line of fire.
Iraqi security forces and coalition forces take every precaution they can to avoid putting innocent citizens in danger. These are dangerous operations. They're complex operations. And so despite those precautions, the enemies of Iraq will still put civilians at risk or target civilians directly, and the price that the Iraqi people pay is great. And that is -- that's most unfortunate.
With regard to those that are detained, you know, our effort is to kill or capture the terrorists and the insurgents. When they are detained, whether it's by Iraqi security forces or by coalition forces, there is a very detailed process by which they are detained and cared for. And then ultimately their cases are reviewed, reviewed by a board that is dominated by Iraqis. A decision is made following the review of their case, and they are released, if that's the appropriate decision, or they are further detained to go to trial and to be part of the judicial process.
And as you know, the rule of law being established in Iraq is key to a safe and secure future. And since late last spring the central criminal court of Iraq has been actively adjudicating cases with -- and rendering justice, determining sentences that will keep people in jail that would acquit them and release them, in some cases would sentence them to death.
So the emergence of the rule of law is crucial to the safe and secure Iraq that is being born today.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) So why did you release Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, known as Mrs. Germ? And you didn't ask the Iraqis for that; you only said that they no longer pose a threat to the Americans. GEN. ALSTON: Let me ensure that the record is clear on this particular case. Those individuals who I think have been called in the press high-value -- formerly high-value detainees were -- their cases have been under review for an extensive period of time.
They have been under review with the coalition forces and with the Iraqi government. We indicated to the Iraqi government that we felt that we did not have authority to continue to detain them. We had determined that they were not a threat to the Iraqi society. We had determined that they had no additional useful information in our combined fight against the insurgency and terrorists, and there was no evidence under Iraqi law to further detain them.
So we notified the Iraqi government that if they could provide further evidence that would provide us the authority to continue their detention, we would detain them. That evidence did not come; we then, therefore, released them because we no longer had the authority to detain them.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) (Name inaudible) -- from Al-Mada. General Alston, you said that the coalition forces and the Iraqi forces have conducted many military operations throughout Iraq. How do you explain the return of terrorist groups in Tall Afar, which had witnessed many military operations. And how do you explain the explosion of five car bombs today in Baghdad?
GEN. ALSTON: First, I'll discuss the Tall Afar comment that you made. Tall Afar and that area, Northern Iraq, whereby terrorists would come through Northern Syria -- Eastern Syria and make its way into the northern avenues of approach into Iraq, was very important to al Qaeda in Iraq and the terrorist network.
Outstanding operations in September led by the Iraqi army. Eleven battalions of Iraqi army, three battalions of coalition forces, more than 5,000 Iraqi army engaged in a very professional, very thorough demonstration of the emerging capability of the Iraqi army. In fact, that may have been a turning point. Certainly it was -- if we call it a turning point, it was still an extremely important moment in the history of the development of the Iraqi army. Very successful operations had a great impact against the enemy in Tall Afar. That area still remains very important to the terrorists, and they will continue to try to claw back into Tall Afar to get a foothold back there.
But the persistent Iraqi army presence in Tall Afar will deny them the ability to be in Tall Afar as they were prior to those operations in September. So we are not surprised that there would be some degree of activity in Tall Afar because it means so much to the terrorists' effort to disrupt the democratic process, particularly in the Northern part of Iraq. But the Iraqi army is there, and they will not allow that to happen.
And the second part of your question said, what about the car bombs that went off today in Iraq, in Baghdad specifically. As I said in my prepared comments, we fully expect that when the emergency measures that had been put in effect by the government of Iraq during the election period, when they would be removed, that we would expect that the acts of violence against the Iraqi people and against the democratic process would increase. And we're seeing that increase right now. This is perceived inappropriately, I would say, or inaccurately, perhaps, by the enemy as a time of vulnerability as the government transitions from a -- its transitional government to the permanent government, to the constitutionally-based, democratically- elected, four-year permanent government.
But let me tell you what's different today than the conditions that existed back in April and May when the Jeffrey government took power. Back then, there were about 138,000 Iraqi security forces; today, there are over 223,000 security forces. Then, the Iraqi army was not deployed throughout Iraq; today, the Iraqi army is deployed throughout Iraq: the operations that were successful in the Tall Afar area, the operations that were successful throughout the Euphrates River Valley all the way through Husaybah, the persistent presence of the Iraqi army throughout the Euphrates River Valley, staying there, building a bond of trust with the local Iraqi people leading to terrorists being exposed, weapons caches being found, all because of that bond between the Iraqi army and the people of those areas right there.
What is different then, the borders, particularly in the West, were porous, and the ability of the enemy to move from Syria through the Euphrates River Valley was something they could do. Today, the Iraqis have restored control of their borders -- still a great challenge because the borders are so broad -- but now, border forts exist that ring the country of Iraq. Iraqi security forces, both army forces as well as Department of Border Enforcement forces, are out there on post, guarding Iraq's borders. And even over the last couple of weeks, the coalition announced the reduction of some of its forces. Those reductions will not be felt now for perhaps a few more weeks will we -- before we start to see the impact. Today, we are all still here.
So those things make this period of transition nothing like the period of transition back in the spring. So I am not surprised that we would see this increase in the number -- in the level of violence, but I feel great confidence because of the size, capability and commitment of the Iraqi security forces and the coalition and their coalition partners that security and stability in Iraq is -- it will be assured; that the democratic process will continue on its path; and the Iraqi people will not be intimidated by those who would want to destroy what has been built.
A long answer to your question.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) Hassein al-Hameri (ph) from Al- Qainah (ph). I have two questions, one question about the American forces, and the second is a field question.
Mr. George W. Bush said that the Iraqi forces which have been trained by the American forces will join us to fight terrorism in other countries. How do you explain this statement? Does this mean that the Iraqi army will join the Iraqi army to fight Syria or Iran?
And now you are fighting against gunmen who have no positions. Why do you use the strategic airplanes to bombard the areas? This means that you are bombarding many areas and paralyzing these areas and killing many innocent people in these areas. How do you explain this?
GEN. ALSTON: All right. The -- I am not familiar with the direct -- the point you made about what the president of the United States said, so I will have to get familiar with that.
But let me address the Iraqi -- the partnership of the Iraqi security forces with the coalition forces. We are engaged in a global war on terror. That global war on terror is being fought principally in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The partnership with the Iraqi government is essential to our success against (sic) the global war on terror. The contribution of the Iraqi security forces to destroy terrorists here in Iraq by fighting alongside or in the lead with coalition forces is very important to America, and it's very important to the coalition. These forces that are growing larger and more capable every day are making a very large difference. It is essential to the coalition that Iraqi security forces and that Iraq not be -- the Iraqi security forces continue to grow and be strong and defend Iraq, but that Iraq is an ally on the war on terror and that Iraq does not become a safe haven for terrorists. So that fight today is here in Iraq, and that partnership is enabling us to achieve success.
With regard to the use of airpower in order to achieve military effects, our forces together in the field are using the means they need in order to achieve and defeat the terrorists. But the options that we select are the options that are going to kill or capture the enemy in a way that would minimize the risk to the population. And so those moments where we are choosing to use airpower in order to cause a military effect -- there are controls on the release of those weapons, and there are circumstances that must be in effect before those weapons would be employed. And every effort is made to minimize the risk to innocent civilians. And so these targets where the terrorists are seen planting IEDs in the road and in those other scenarios whereby we look at all the options available and choose the option that we think is most appropriate and the one that minimizes risk to civilians -- in some cases, that's going to be airpower.
Yes, ma'am?
Q (Through interpreter.) Vamiyah Hussein (sp) from Free Iraq. Do you think there are some cities which you still consider as hot areas in Iraq and, with the new year, witness new big military operations like that of Tall Afar and Ramadi?
And you said that the Iraqi armed forces are capable and are well-trained, but you still say that the Iraqi forces cannot hand over the security file. When are -- the security forces be ready to hand over their responsibilities independently from the coalition forces?
GEN. ALSTON: There are still some cities where the terrorists are doing their best to try to establish a base of operations. They are failing to achieve that in Ramadi. We continue to have a presence with Iraqi security forces in the Ramadi area that is having a positive impact on the security situation.
The people of Ramadi in many cases are turning towards the Iraqi security forces for that bond of trust I spoke of, where the partnership between the local people and their army is proving to be very helpful against that situation.
So Ramadi is improving. But the areas around Ramadi still are a challenge, and we will continue to keep the pressure on the enemy in that area.
There has -- there also -- in western Iraq there -- more in the Rutbah area there would also be -- is an area of concern for us as well.
But the pressure is being maintained wherever we find the enemy. And the Iraqi security forces being deployed so broadly throughout the country is giving the coalition and the Iraqi security forces access to better intelligence because the people of Iraq, the local citizens are engaging the Iraqi army. And just because of that confidence that the local people would have in their fellow Iraqi security forces, that relationship is paying off in more actionable intelligence.
If the Iraqi -- as the Iraqi people expose the terrorists, the broader that that takes hold, the more engagement that the local people have with Iraqi security forces, the more that the enemies of Iraq are exposed, the sooner the levels of violence will decrease in those areas throughout Iraq.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) Ali Drad (sp) from Baladi (sp). You said that the Iraqi security forces are developing. What's the percentage of your dependence on the Iraqi armed forces in confronting terrorism in Iraq?
GEN. ALSTON: That question will also help me finish the second question that you -- (off mike). The Iraqi security forces are developing -- and let me speak specifically about the army first. The Iraqi army throughout this past year has developed just as the partnership between the government leadership and the coalition leadership had planned. They have formed many units, and they have been trained and equipped to perform in a way that will enable them to provide security to the country of Iraq.
They are not being built as a large-scale expeditionary force. You know, step one is to secure Iraq. And that's the track that we're on, and that is the -- and every indication we see is that we are on track with that development of the Iraqi army.
The police are also developing very well. We are going to increase our partnership with the police in the coming year, so that the development of the police can be accelerated, so that it can match the very successful development of the Iraqi army this past year -- frankly, over these past 18 months.
So we're very encouraged by the training and evaluation programs that we have, that we have embarked on, and that are showing us whether or not we're on course. And every trend that we see is moving in the right direction.
It is -- I am unable -- we are unable to provide a timetable on exactly when these transitions would occur. But as these conditions are met, more and more Iraqi units take over battle space, more and more the coalition forces will step back, and that trend will continue until ultimately Iraqis secure Iraq completely. Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) Ahmad Jamil (sp) from Sharqiya (sp). There have been military operations conducted because of terrorists crossing the Iraqi borders from the neighboring countries. The issue of the Iraqi borders -- have you worked out a plan to stop the infiltrators from coming outside Iraq?
GEN. ALSTON: The effort to secure the borders of Iraq has several components to it.
One of the most highly visible components to this was the very aggressive engagement by the government of Iraq. Its leaders throughout the last eight months aggressively engaged all of the neighbors of Iraq, soliciting their support to help them in their fight against terrorists, and in many cases, progress was very good with so many of the neighbors. But diplomatic engagement and support from surrounding nations is one very critical element to securing the borders of Iraq.
The other aspect is the military aspect. There has been an aggressive construction program that has developed border forts around the perimeter of Iraq in order to sustain the Department of Border Enforcement forces that are out there on the post guarding Iraq. In addition to that, particularly in the West, not only do you have the Department of Border Enforcement in these -- in many cases, newly constructed border forts -- but you also have nearby Iraqi army units that also contribute with a defense in depth to the nation. And that combination of Department of Border Enforcement units, backed up by Iraqi army, with coalition forces there to support, is improving the situation with the borders, where the challenges have been the greatest.
Yes, ma'am?
Q (Through interpreter.) Amanal Haz Raji (ph) from Baghdad newspaper. My question: are you going to establish military bases in Iraq after the situation is stable?
GEN. ALSTON: That -- the question of whether or not there'd be long-term military bases by coalition members in Iraq after Iraqis achieve self-reliance, I think would be -- perhaps the way you directed that question -- is a function of the government of Iraq and any individual coalition partner. So, you know, I'm focused on the situation we have at hand right now, and it's beyond my responsibility to discuss those kinds of future engagements. But those engagements will be between the sovereign government of Iraq and individual coalition countries with regard to any long-term security arrangements.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) Before the elections, you said that you are going to hand over the Iraqi prisons to the Iraqi government. But after the initial reports -- or the initial results of the elections were released, you backed down from this decision. Why? GEN. ALSTON: We will -- we continue on our plan with the Iraqi government for the transition of responsibility for detention facilities to the Iraqi government. There are four steps that I'd like to cover with regard to this transition because it has to do the readiness of the Iraqi forces to take this responsibility.
First, we are working in a classroom environment to train the basics of prison guard duties and facility management, and those kinds of things are under way. Another step is for after that classroom training, that we would serve side by side in those prisons in order to ensure that -- to season those prison leaders and to enable them to continue to grow their confidence in their ability to take on that great responsibility of managing the detention facilities.
Then, we want to form an enterprise here; we would call it detainee transition teams where there would be a degree of oversight as we watch the Iraqi guards conducting detention operations in order to provide any additional support that may be required because these operations are so vital.
And then finally, we would in a gradual way reduce those transition teams and reduce that oversight so that we have set the Iraqi detention system up for success, so that they can take on that responsibility and succeed and do the -- do that vital job very well.
And so that broadly is the plan and the process. And that engagement between the Iraqi leadership and the coalition continues down that path.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) (Name inaudible) -- from Al- Sumariyah. You always say -- you always talk about training and rehabilitation of the Iraqi forces. Iraq had a strong army. And the -- do you think that the Iraqis cannot manage the detention facilities? Do you think that Iraqis have no experience in dealing with detention facilities?
GEN. ALSTON: We have great confidence that the Iraqi -- that those who will be responsible for managing detention facilities will be able to step up to that very important job. This is a very vital element as we transition to self-reliance. And these early steps to take a detention population, care for it and provide those individuals the safety and security that is required, the care and feeding that is required, the engagement with the political process so that cases can be reviewed and referred to courts or process put in place to release individual detainees -- and all of that process, regardless of all the challenges associated with that, we have every confidence that the Iraqi government will step up to that and do a fine job.
We both recognize how important that job is, and it is through our partnership that we've established these procedures. This is not a coalition program. It is a coalition and Iraqi government program with a program that has been agreed upon and a course and a direction that has been -- that we have set ourselves on, that is by mutual choice. So this is the way the government and the coalition have decided to proceed in order to ensure success in this very important transition.
I think I'm ready to take one more question if there's one more question.
Yes, sir?
Q (Through interpreter.) The American forces took many decisions to escort the Iraqi patrols to put an end to some attacks by some gunmen who pose as policemen.
Are you going to pursue this procedure after the formation of the new government?
GEN. ALSTON: The partnership that we have with the Ministry of the Interior is a strong partnership. Our work together continues while we -- while the government of Iraq transitions to its permanent nature. So that partnership continues. Every day that partnership grows.
As I said before, we believe that the success that we had with the Iraqi army, that the model that we had, with teams that were with lots of Iraqi units, paid great dividends for the accelerated growth and performance of the Iraqi army units. We believe that's a good model. We believe that that model will transfer very well into our partnership with the Ministry of the Interior. It is already being done in the Ministry of the Interior, and we see its wider application as an opportunity to accelerate the growth of the Iraqi police service.
Thank you all very much, and happy new year.
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