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Interview Transcript, Col. David Sutherland, September 18, 2007

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Interview Transcript, Col. David Sutherland, September 18, 2007

PARTICIPANTS: COL DAVID W. SUTHERLAND

DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2007

REPORTER: KATERINA KRATOVAC

COL: Good morning or good afternoon I guess now. Asalamalakum. I’m Colonel David W. Sutherland, Commander of the Third (3rd) Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf ”, 1st Calvary Division, currently stationed in Diyalá. We’ve been here since November, of last year doing a dual mission in the Diyalá Province. First in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces we continue to pursue and bring Al-Qaida to justice while simultaneously holding the areas we’ve already cleared. So the government of Diyalá can begin restoring basic goods, services, and a sense of normalcy to the people of Diyalá. Just to put things into perspective, as I said, my Brigade has been here since November of last year. I’d like to…to tell you, that the changes taken place throughout the province in the last four (4) months, especially in Baqubah are incredible. Earlier this year, Baqubah was called the most dangerous city in Iraq. Today, three (3) months after, increased forces inside Diyalá, the city of Baqubah is a different place. Before the people were afraid to come out of their houses or to walk to the market. gunfire was a common sound and the streets were empty after twelve (12:00) noon. The fear of being kidnapped or killed was always there. People had not received their food rations since August of 06. Violence both sectarian and terrorist was tearing the province apart. Diyalá was going through a humanitarian crisis. However, the influx of troops in Diyalá beginning in March of this year allowed the Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces to clear areas considered as al-Qaida safe havens, to establish a permanent presence and in a series of joint patrol bases and bring humanitarian assistance to the people. With the…area more secure the Iraqi Security Forces with support from our Coalition Forces have delivered over 1,150,000 kilos of rice and over 1,140,000 kilos of flour o the people of Diyalá. Operations “Arrowhead Ripper”, “Lightning Hammer”, “Lighting Hammer II”…[STATIC]…has allowed us to focus on supporting the local government in their effort to rebuild the province with the system and infrastructure that are critical to restoring essential services to the population. Significant acts of violence in our area of operation have decreased forty (40) percent and are…are, predominantly a systemic response to our offensive operations. Operation “Greywolf Hammer II” an ongoing operation has resulted in twenty-two (22) terrorist killed and twenty-two (22) suspected terrorist detained. We’ve also discovered fifteen (15) weapons caches, but more importantly discovered and reduced three (3) vehicle born improvised explosive devices, five (5) rigged houses, and thirty-eight IED’s in emplaced on routes which could have deeply impacted our security forces and the local population. The enemy is on the run and has no place to hide. Because of these operations, essential services, not security are now the main priority for the people of Diyalá and the number one discussion point during, engagement. Currently the public distribution system which is the Iraqi subsidized food program is functional in all five Kadas and the province. Local mayors are coordinating delivery of PDS with the Iraqi Security Forces. Making the delivery a routine event. The local government and the Security Forces are continuously providing humanitarian assistance to the most remote areas where PDS might not have the ability to reach the population on a regular basis. Local businesses are beginning to open and jobs are now becoming available. One of these businesses, a flourmill south of Baqubah is currently producing flour that is available throughout the province. A work program within the city of Baqubah is on the way and producing very significant results. Water facilities are now being assessed by the local government. Some are working, some are need of minor repairs and chemicals to purify the water and others are in need of major repairs that will take time. The District General of Water and Irrigation is working to address these issues. Diyalá receives an average of twelve (12) hours of electricity throughout the day; however, the electricity problem is a nationwide issue, which will take some time to get fixed. At the provincial level, the government is assessing the local electric network and is working to fix, that network through provincial means. Diyalá hospitals and clinics are functioning and supplies are reaching outlining areas. The Baqubah hospital has received millions of dollars in equipment and supplies, and the provinces received thirty-five (35) new ambulances at a cost of over one million (1,00,000) dollars. The DG of Health has coordinated a multiple lifts of the medical supplies from Baghdad to clinics throughout the provinces. Fuel is now coming to the province, with multiple shipments of diesel, kerosene and benzene arriving every week. Its government is also focusing on canal systems throughout the province. This is an agricultural province and water is essential for their crops. Canals have been cleaned to allow the flow of water to land…farmland throughout Diyalá. The government has allocated over one hundred and fourteen (114) million dollars from the two thousand six (2006) budget and over one million six, one hundred and six (106) million dollars from the two thousand seven (2007) budget for reconstruction projects throughout Diyalá. Additionally, the provincial council is meeting every week to review new projects. Schools are being reassessed to identify their needs prior to the beginning of the school year. In the coming weeks eight (8) truckloads, full of test books are being delivered to Baqubah by the Ministry of Education. Additionally, the Education Department warehouse is full of school materials and equipment for the schools in the Diyalá area. These are all signs of progress; however, these improvements could not be achieved without the support of the local Iraqi citizens. The tribal leaders are the pillars of these communities. The government has made significant progress in its efforts to reconcile the Diyalá tribes in order to maintain improvements currently taking place. The governor has conducted over fifteen (15) tribal engagement and negotiated four (4) major reconciliation agreements to reduce tribal violence and unite the people. Last month governor Ra’ad Al-Tanimi hosted a meeting that included virtually every Paramount Sheik or their senior representative in the province. These individuals signed a provincial-wide tribal reconciliation agreement promising to work together for better future for all Iraqis, regardless of tribe or sect. These Sheiks are now offering their sons to join the Iraqi Security Forces to protect their people and fight Al-Qaida. The tribal leaders are part of the solution in Diyalá. Reconciliation initiatives resulted in a forty-six (46) percent drop in violent acts in the Diyala River Valley and a seventy-one (71) percent drop in Khalis Qada. These agreements have also embedded or enabled the return of displaced families to a number of areas throughout the province. Approximately three thousand three hundred (3,300) displaced individuals have returned to their homes. An example is seventy-one (71) families from the Qualis area near Al-Khalis. Three hundred and twenty (320) have returned to the Tahrir area of Baqubah and an estimated one hundred and twenty (120) families have returned to Abarra. I’ll tell that there’s still a long way to go; however, we do not focus on what we have done, but will be done and will do. There are problems and issues that are still in need of special attention. Al-Qaida and other extremist groups remain a threat to Diyalá, but they are quickly learning they have no safe haven here. Today, the situation in Diyala is better than it was four (4) to six (6) months ago and it will continue to improve. The Iraqi people share the same hopes, the same dreams and the same desires as we do. They want the opportunity to prosper, however, without peace and stability the opportunity for prosperity cannot and will not exist. I’ll now take your questions that you may have any of them you’d like to ask me.

KATERINA: Associated Press, Katerina Kratovac. Sir, do you see any Al-Qaida strong holds remaining across Diyalá? That’s the first question, and also in lieu of yesterday’s protest in Baqubah, do you see any signs of discord within the Alliance of the people who come to join the anti-Al-Qaida forces and fight on the side of the Iraqis, the former insurgents, and the U.S. Troops. Are there any problems that you see in the nearest future in that respect? Thank you.

COL: Ma’ am, I caught the first part of your question about the…is there still Al-Qaida presence in Diyalá. Can you say the second part of the question again a little bit louder?

KATERINA: In lieu of yesterday’s protest in Baqubah the 1928 revolution brigades, rallying. Do you see any signs of discord within the anti-Iraqi Alliance; the former insurgents who’ve crossed over to help, the Coalition Troops fight the Al-Qaida?

COL: Yeah, let me answer the first one. There’s still an Al-Qaida presence in…inside Diyalá. That Al-Qaida presence is getting smaller and smaller because the people are standing up against them. The center of gravity for us is still the people and the amazing, transformation that is happening here inside this province is because the…government and efforts here have driven a wedge between the insurgents and the terrorist and the insurgents who want to now be a part of the, government and the Security Forces are standing against Al-Qaida. In reference to yesterday’s, demonstration inside Aqubah, first, what a great demonstration of democracy. That took place yesterday. It was a peaceful demonstration that took place right outside the government center and they were protesting the issue their lack of confidence in the provincial police chief and the provincial…and the hiring practices. The truth is, that right after that the leaders of the protest met with the governor, they addressed their concerns and the governor has all eleven (11) points with their concerns and he’s going back and looking at them. There’s dialogue, there is discussion, but more importantly it’s done in a non-violent means. They realized that picking up arms, in response to their dislikes or their displeasure will achieve nothing, but, contempt and continued level of violence. So, their peaceful demonstration actually achieved more than any sort of violent effort, but it actually bonds the concerned local national closer to the government. The issue is with the police. The government of Iraq, we’re waiting for them to increase the authorization of hiring from the current level up to twenty-one thousand (21,000) IPs in Diyalá.

REP1: Reporter asks questions in Arabic.

INT: A question from Al-ayyam Abudi [PH]. It’s a newspaper. You said yourself of not being able to control the main road…external road. Are you being able to control this road, especially we have some illegal checkpoints all the way in the Albain road.

COL: Yeah, I don’t control roads. What I do is attack terrorist.

REP1: Reporter asks a follow up question in Arabic.

INT: The Albain road is a vital road that leads to Kurdistan and there are illegal checkpoints always on this road. You promised a while ago that you would control this road. Have you been able to control this road?

COL: Again, I don’t control roads. What I do is I attack based on intelligence driven operations and evidence based. The issue that you’re addressing is a strategy that has failed that of check points in Diyalá. I will continue to pursue aggressively and persistently, terrorist networks and terrorist organizations within Diyalá.

KATERINA: Sir, AP again, did you hear that last part of the second question? What are the imminent problems that you see in the nearest future are there any problems within the anti-al-Qaida Alliance on the part of the former extremists, former Sunni insurgents? Thank you.

KATERINA: Colonel, I’m sorry, the question was…what are the problems that you could outline for us for the imminent future and also do you see any signs of discord within the anti-Al-Qaida Alliance?

KATERINA: Could you please outline for us what are the most problems that you see for the imminent future? In the next few month and weeks in Diyalá? And also, do you see any signs of discord within the anti-Al-Qaida Alliance on the part of the former insurgents? Thank you.

KATERINA: Okay. What are the problems in the nearest future that you will deal with? Can you outline for us what are the plans…the next plan for Diyalá and also do you see any signs of discord within the anti-Al-Qaida Alliance on the part of the former insurgents? There are people who now, still have guns and although we say they’ve crossed over and are fighting the Al-Qaida now, do you see that dourest continued that way? Thank you.

KATERINA: What problems to you anticipate for Diyalá in the nearest future? That’s the first part of the question…

COL: The…the first part, the answer to that question, the problem that I anticipate in Diyalá, in the future. That’s going to be determined, by the will of the people. The will of the people here are going to determine the future of Diyalá. It has been that Al-Qaida will try to influence them. They will try to drive wedges between the people and the government, and attack those groups of people that are standing up against them. The will of the people will drive the hope of the people. …the movement that we’re seeing of the people wanting to participate in the security process and wanting to participate in the government process is the key and that is the worst enemy for Al-Qaida. They understand that the people are reconciling, reconciliation in Diyalá it’s not just travel reconciliation has been the intelligence between families between neighbors, and it’s between sects, and it is between tribes. It is provincial reconciliation and it’s having a movement that’s having an affect so the people are going to determine the future of Diyalá and how it…we progress from this point on.

KATERINA: …see this level of violence going down further, you said that there’s been a forty (40) percent decrease, will that continue do you think?

KATERINA: You said there was…has been a forty (40) percent decrease in violence, do you see that level decreasing further?

COL: Yeah, I do. The actual decrease in violence has come down forty (40) percent since reconciliation and since the increase in forces has been significant. However, we still see violent acts are, predominantly, predominantly, although there still exists as a systemic response to our offensive operations. We will continue to be very persistent and aggressive against al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations. As a result of those offensive operations, there is an increase in violence as we go into areas that they perceive as theirs. I don’t anticipate slowing down my operations as long as I have intelligence or information, so…but I do see a decrease in attacks on local nationals and a decrease in attacks on offensive nature from al-Qaida and other terrorist networks. They’re more defensive than offensive.

KATERINA: And finally one last question, do you see any problems, any discord within the anti-Al-Qaida Alliance. These people, former insurgents they still have guns. Do you see any problems arising from that fact?

COL: From, I see the people…[STATIC]…the people that have guns, are you talking about Concerned Local Nationals, or al-Qaida, or who are you talking about?

KATERINA: Local nationals, the former insurgents. The people who have joined the anti-al-Qaida fight.

COL: Do I see a problem with that? I…I actually see that as them protecting their homes and neighborhoods from Al-Qaida. The best way to solve this is to integrate them into the Security Forces. That needs to be done with the support of the Ministry of Interior authorizing the increase, hiring of IP’s (Iraqi Police) into the Diyalá Province. The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, other Iraqi leaders have stated publicly that the authorization to forty-one (41,000) thousand IP’s in Diyalá would be approved. We’re still waiting for the Minister of Interior to sign that, document and give it to the provincial director of police, General Ghanem. These people want to participate in the security process, the example of yesterday’s peaceful demonstration by the CLN showed that they are committed to participating in the process. They had no guns, the marched and showed their displeasure. But they right now are included in dialog with the government of Iraq and in dialog with the Security Forces. But they want to participate. They want to guard their neighborhoods and they want to prevent the theft and destruction that Al-Qaida brought to Diyalá over the past several years.

KATERINA: Thank you.

COL: Okay. Yeah, the best thing is that I can tell you that there’s movement in Diyalá. They are…the people here are going to determine the outcome. There’s a movement by the people, they share as I said in my opening comments. They share the same hopes, the same dreams, and the same desires we do. They want the opportunity to prosper. However, without the peace and stability the opportunity of prosperity cannot exist. This integration of social-political aspects that we’re seen through reconciliation, through the Concerned Local Nationals takes into account actual cultural aspects. The bottom-top integration, if you will, and that’s making the difference here. The focus of the surge in Diyalá was to improve security in Baqubah. This was achieved and we’re now in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces holding Baqubah and other cleared area while still pursuing and bringing to justice Al-Qaida and their fighters. I am so proud of my soldiers. I am so proud of the Iraqi Security Forces and the progress that they’re making day in and day out. Our soldiers, not just my soldiers, but our soldiers are brave. They are disciplined both unit and co…individually, and most of all they’re kind. They’re showing the people the dignity and respect that they deserve and that’s making a difference up here. Services are being re-established and they’re moving forward and I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you all today. I hope you come and visit us and spend some time up here seeing for yourselves how things are progressing. Thanks very much.