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Iraqi Fusion Cell brings U.S., Iraqi intelligence-gathering to new heights

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

www.mnc-i.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20090723-01

July 23, 2009

Iraqi Fusion Cell brings U.S., Iraqi intelligence-gathering to new heights

Multi-National Division – North

DIYALA, Iraq – One part of the greater effort to transition the security of Diyala province out of the hands of Coalition forces and into those of the Iraqi Security Forces is located on Forward Operating Base Gabe, a small section of FOB Lion, located just outside of the Diyala provincial capital city of Baqubah.

A team of intelligence analysts from the 184th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, remain in the Diyala Operations Center working in what has been dubbed the “Iraqi Fusion Cell”.
This small group of Soldiers works closely with Iraqi intelligence officers, assisting in the development of the Iraqi Security Forces’ intelligence operations and ‘fusing’ the intelligence capabilities.

Each team spends a period of twenty-five days at the cell, “facilitating transparent targeting and supporting the warrant process,” said 2nd Lt. Robin Tullercash, the officer in charge of the initial IFC team, who spent the last three weeks in June there. The joint effort to identify and arrest criminals and violent extremists, Tullercash said, “is a step in the right direction for the Iraqis to stand on their own two feet.”

Tullercash and her team worked, through a pair of interpreters, with three Iraqi intelligence officers; one of whom, General Thafir, is the director of intelligence for Diyala province and oversees all the intelligence operations conducted by the Iraqi Security Forces in the province. Their primary responsibility is to convert intelligence from various sources into evidence that can be used by the Iraqi Security Forces to seek and obtain warrants from the Iraqi judicial system, investigate targeted individuals, and prosecute suspected insurgents. The raw intelligence data is translated into pertinent, usable, and up-to-date evidence that can be shared with Iraqi counterparts.

U.S. military intelligence often uses different sources of intelligence to identify criminals and build up cases against them, whereas the Iraqi court system relies mostly on witness testimony and sworn statements. After working at the IFC, many of the Iraqis involved have become very interested in the potential benefits adopting some of the techniques used by U.S. forces, especially biometric evidence (fingerprints, for example), in their intelligence gathering processes.

For many of these analysts – many of whom have spent most of their tour in the brigade’s analysis control element and rarely leave FOB Warhorse – this is the first time they have been put in a situation where they work so intimately with Iraqis and the two interpreters assigned with them.

The initial obstacle the teams needed to overcome was the inherent barriers between them, created by their disparate personal and professional backgrounds. As time passed, and the two units conducted intelligence operations together, the teams were able to pass information more freely and build a healthy professional relationship. By the end of June, the Iraqis were very receptive to the assistance and direction provided by the IFC team.

The current team at the IFC is forging the way ahead for the Iraqi Security Forces to take positive control over the intelligence mission, continuing to support the targeting of threats to security, and are preparing for the time to come when U.S. forces have left Diyala province.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT: MNDNPAO@25ID.ARMY.MIL OR DSN 318-856-0218. FOR THIS PRESS RELEASE AND OTHERS, VISIT WWW.MNC-I.COM