NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
October 5, 2004
Release Number: 04-10-15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRAQI BORDER FORTS STRENGTHEN SECURITY
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's Department of Border Enforcement is beefing up its border defenses with a plan to build or reconstruct more than 300 border forts. Included in the plan is the construction of a command and control structure including 12 brigade headquarters, four sector headquarters, and the national headquarters in Baghdad.
According to officials, the Multinational Security Transition Command - Iraq is working closely with representatives from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Baghdad, major subordinate command border enforcement representatives, and Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement officials to precisely identify fort locations that improve border control effectiveness. The resulting plan lays out border fort construction locations in Suly, Diyala, Wassit, Maysan, Basrah, Muthanna, Najaf, Anbar, and Ninewa provinces and directly supports the national elections by helping to stem the flow of anti-Iraqi forces, money and weapons into the country.
"Securing the border of Iraq is a complex problem," said U.S. Air Force Major James "Monty" Greer, of the MNSTC-I engineering section. "But working closely with the Iraqi border enforcement and leadership from around the country has reduced that complexity. We have been able to come to agreement in every case, and ultimately will improve the situation around the border through personal relationships and cooperation."
Funding is currently available for approximately 200 forts, with future funding for an additional 100 forts. There are 151 forts contracted for construction, 75 forts currently under construction and 41 forts already operational.
The MOI has pledged to support construction efforts by stationing border enforcement officers at construction sites to provide site security and to begin patrolling the border from the construction locations.
The construction team is comprised of the Air Force Center for Environmental Engineering, Army Corps of Engineers, Navy Seabees, and Parsons of Delaware, a construction company. In all some 1,500 Iraqi engineers, project managers, and construction workers from around the country are currently employed in efforts as diverse as design, quality assurance, and construction, and the number is growing weekly.
In addition to the border fort construction, a project to modernize the many points of entry between Iraq and its neighbors is underway. Modernization includes the incorporation of security technology that will allow border officials to scan and screen nearly all the cargo that passes through the points of entry. This technology allows border enforcement officials to better control the flow of commerce in and out of Iraq.
At a border enforcement graduation in Jordan last month, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-national Security Transition Command - Iraq said that the border enforcement department would grow in the coming year.
"The Ministry of Interior and our team recently completed a manpower analysis that concluded that the Department of Border Enforcement is significantly under strength for the formidable task of securing Iraq's 3,600 kilometers of borders and its ports of entry," Petraeus said. "Over the next year, Iraq will double the size of the border enforcement - first expanding to 24,000 and then to 32,000 members. Iraq needs the right 32,000 people for this important job. Your loyalty must be to protecting the new Iraq."
Contact Capt. Steven Alvarez at alvarezsj@mnscti.iraq.centcom.mil or IRAQNA Cell: 790-191-0615 for more information.
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