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U.S. Air Force Sends Team to Assess Iraqi Air Sovereignty (Baghdad)

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Thursday, 10 September 2009

Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office
Phoenix Base APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090909-01
Sept. 9, 2009
Contact: pao@mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil
DSN: 318-852-1332
IRAQNA: 0780-997-5063

U.S. Air Force Sends Team to Assess Iraqi Air Sovereignty

BAGHDAD – U.S. Air Force Central sent a team here to assess how Iraq will maintain sovereignty of their airspace after U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq Dec. 31, 2011.

As U.S. forces continue to draw down. The Iraqi Air Force is becoming more of a focal point.

One group that is examining Iraq’s capabilities after the U.S. departs is the Air Sovereignty Assessment Team. Directed by the Secretary of the Air Force, the team was dispatched by U.S. Air Force Central to determine how to best bridge the gap between U.S Air Force’s departure and Iraq achieving the organic capability and capacity to monitor, control, and if necessary defend its airspace.

During their visit to Iraq in early September, the Air Sovereignty Assessment Team met with the Iraqi minister of defense, the deputy commander of the Iraqi Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force staff, and U.S. advisors attached to Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission- Air Force.

“The goal is to make sure Iraq maintains sovereignty by bridging the gap after we leave,” said Lt. Col. Daniel E. Rauch, deputy advisor from ITAM-Air Force to the Iraqi air staff for planning. “The accelerated schedule of the Security Agreement creates a period of time when Iraq does not possess the foundational capability to ensure air sovereignty or defend against the perceived threat.”

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT: WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL.