07 September 2006
Iraq Taking Command of Its Armed Forces
Transfer of military authority seen as major historic milestone
Washington – Coalition forces formally initiated a handover of Iraq’s military to its prime minister in a September 7 ceremony that marked yet another milestone in the country’s long and challenging process of building a democratic nation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki described the transfer of military command as “a great step forward for the country,” adding that “the new Iraqi army is being built by the courage of its sons, who will dedicate their lives to protect their citizenry, and today the new Iraqi army has been rebuilt on values other than sectarianism.”
Army General George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said the transfer “marks a milestone in the relentless journey of Iraqi forces. It's a story of courage, perseverance and commitment to the values of Iraq.”
At the ceremony, al-Maliki and Casey signed a document bringing Iraq’s air force, navy and one army division – the 8th Iraqi Army Division – under full, immediate control of the Iraqi government. Over the next several months, coalition officials say, the prime minister will authorize the gradual transfer of additional army divisions over the next several months until all 10 can operate under a fully independent Iraqi operational command.
Since the 2003 disbanding of former dictator Saddam Hussein’s armed forces, the new, democratically elected Iraqi government administered Iraq’s military jointly with coalition forces under Multi-National Corps - Iraq. Senior coalition officers controlled Iraqi army divisions, but Iraqi officers commanded smaller units.
After several years of intensive training and successful joint operations, six Iraqi divisions were given lead security responsibility for much of the country earlier this year. (See related article.)
The command transfer puts the prime minister directly in operational control of Iraq’s military under his constitutional role as the commander in chief, removing coalition forces from the Iraqi military’s chain of command.
The prime minister will control the military through the Iraqi defense ministry and its joint-force headquarters, which in turn will oversee Iraqi ground forces command headquarters. That headquarters will supervise operations from the division level down to the individual soldier. (See related article.)
“This is such a huge, significant event,” Army Major General William Caldwell told reporters at a September 6 press briefing in Baghdad. “If you go back and you map out significant events that have occurred in this government's formation in taking control of the country, this development … is gigantic.” (See related article.)
The transfer ceremony, Caldwell said, is yet another indicator of the Iraqi security forces’ increasing capability to safeguard their country. Currently, six of the Iraqi army’s 10 divisions – a total of 26 brigades and 88 battalions – are responsible for maintaining security in assigned operational areas across Iraq.
“[Iraqi army forces are] maintaining the lead in coordinating, planning and conducting security operations in the area in which they're operating,” Caldwell said. “With more and more Iraqi security forces in the lead, the number of counterinsurgency operations being conducted by Iraqi security forces, with coalition forces in support, continues to increase steadily.”
Terrorist violence surged in the hours surrounding the transfer ceremony, as three suicide car bombers targeted Baghdad police, killing 13 and wounding 34 more Iraqis.
“This is the message I have for the terrorists,” al-Maliki responded at the ceremony, “We will see that you get great punishment wherever you are. There is nothing for you but prison and punishment.”
For more information, see Iraq Update.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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