Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - United States Department ...

make-up of Iraq generally. The evennumbereddivisions were assembled fromformer Iraqi National Guard battalions andtend to resemble the demographics of communitiesfrom which they were recruited. Theodd-numbered divisions were nationallyrecruited and represent the national fabric.The Minister of Defense, through an OfficerSelection Committee, has used normal transitionsto diversify the senior leadership in theIraqi Army. There are, however, indicationsthat political forces in Iraq have influencedsenior military appointments on the basis ofsectarian affiliation. MNF-I and U.S.Embassy Baghdad are working closely withthe GOI to discourage sectarian influences inthe senior ranks and to encourage a balancedrepresentation in leadership. The GOI is consideringother methods to balance representationacross the entire Army, Navy, and AirForce.2.3.2. ArmyThe Iraqi Army is central to MOD counterinsurgencyoperations and strategy. TheArmy component of the Objective Counter-Insurgency Force consists of 131,300 soldiersand officers in 36 brigades and 112 battalions.The Prime Minister’s Expansion Planincreases the Army by 2 division HQs, 6brigade HQs, and 24 battalions. NineMotorized Transportation Regiments(MTRs), 4 logistics battalions, 2 supportbattalions, 5 Regional Support Units, and 80Garrison Support Units provide logistics andsupport for divisions, with Taji NationalDepot providing depot-level maintenance andre-supply. Headquarters and Service Companiesprovide logistical and maintenancesupport for each battalion, brigade, and division.The Army also supports a SpecialOperations Forces Brigade and 3 StrategicInfrastructure Brigade headquarters commanding17 SIBs. Efforts to improve thecapability of these units are led by MilitaryTransition Teams, with U.S. and other Coalitionofficers and soldiers embedded in eachbattalion, brigade, and division headquarters;at IGFC headquarters; and at JHQ.By the end of 2006, the last two MTRs weregenerated and released to MNC-I. Althoughlack of trained maintenance personnel andequipment has delayed full capability, theMTRs provide mobility and sustainment forIraqi forces.2.3.3. Iraqi National Counter-TerrorCapabilityImplementation of the national counterterrorismcapability concept, approved by theprime minister on October 10, 2006, is onschedule for Initial Operational Capability inMarch 2007 and Full Operational Capabilityin December 2007. In March 2007, Iraqipersonnel will occupy positions within eachCounter-Terrorism headquarters and willbegin operations and training.Full Operational Capability consists of threecomplementary components:• Development of a national Bureau ofCounter-Terrorism, separate from theministries, that serves as the principaladvisor to the prime minister on counterterrorismmatters• Establishment of a coherent, nonsectarian,counter-terrorism “tiering”strategy that determines the level of theterrorist threat, assigns appropriateresponsibility for action, and definesapproval authority for execution; thisstrategy was established as part of theoverall counter-terrorism concept• Establishment of a separate major command,equivalent to the ground, air, andnaval forces commands, that providessupport to the Bureau of Counter-Terrorismin intelligence and targeting areas41March 2, 2007