Operation New Dawn: No Combat Troops in Iraq

As a retired Soldier, I´m always a bit skeptical when I hear leaders make a distinction between combat troops and non-combat troops. On September 1st, 2010, the Commander in Chief announced that all combat troops have departed Iraq. If I were a betting man, I´d say the only two people in the world who believe this are the Commander in Chief and perhaps the president´s speech writer. Anyone who has served a day in a military uniform understands that that all troops are combat troops. All troops train with a weapon. All troops conduct training and field exercises to hone their skills and capacity to conduct war. After all, conducting war and projecting force outside of our borders is what our military is designed to do.

According to President Obama, the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq changed from a combat mission under Operation Iraqi Freedom to a stability operations mission now referred to as Operation New Dawn. With this change in name and focus, we usher in a new commanding officer. General Lloyd Austin has assumed command of United States Forces-Iraq from General Ray Odierno. Austin, no stranger to the war in Iraq, carries the unenviable task of protecting 50,000 American troops under the guise of "advising and assisting."

According to the President, United States troops are no longer in the lead. Ostensibly, the Iraqi´s are on point and somehow US forces are on the periphery, watching, waiting to advise as the situation dictates. Interesting how we coined a new term for these stay-behind forces. Advise and Assist Brigades. That´s a catchy way of describing our Brigade Combat Teams and Task Force concepts that have permeated the warriors idiom for decades.

Unfortunately, this shift into a so-called final phase of the Iraqi theater of war may be playing out over the next several years. Surely, Al Qaeda in Iraq could care less what we call these stay behind forces and undoubtedly, our troops will be defending themselves routinely. Our bases will be hit with indirect fire. Our convoys will be ambushed. Our troops will be engaged in direct force on force skirmishes. Make no mistake, casualties will continue…on both sides. Regardless of one´s position concerning the war in Iraq, the fact is that blood, sacrifice and treasure—of Iraqi, American and coalition countries— will continue well into the foreseeable future.

The hard truth remains…insurgencies are long, hard slogs. Iraq is no different. Ultimately, Al Qaeda in Iraq nor the coalition forces have the final say on the future of Iraq. We´ve heard pundits who believe this troop withdrawal, change of mission, and campaign promise of President Obama has brought us to a point where a slow end to the insurgency may finally be in sight. But wars do not end by themselves. Before peace can emerge from insurgencies such as the one we face in Iraq, the people must be committed to the long haul. Iraqi´s must truly embrace right over wrong, good over evil, and demonstrate their collective resolve for a "better peace".

No one can question the fact that the Iraqi people have suffered for decades. The brutality of Saddam Hussein, lengthy war with Iran, defeat in Kuwait, and years of United Nations sanctions have contributed to the weariness and skepticism that Iraqi´s surely must feel. War is certainly tough. Post-war may prove the greater challenge for Iraq as America slowly weans them from our hand-holding strategy and removes the training wheels. No doubt, all sides are weary. Yet, there is little rest in sight as future crises will demand our attention.

As the Advise and Assist Brigades take control, conditions in Iraq are uncertain. What needs to be done now is the hard and sometimes contentious work necessary to elicit peace from the ambiguous conditions that could yet have any number of unsatisfactory results. I suspect the US will need to be involved in Iraq for at least another 5-10 years.

Bringing about a better peace that would bring dignity to the sacrifices our troops made will not be easy. In fact, it may prove impossible.

As our mission changes after almost eight years of war, America cannot afford to let up diplomatic pressure on Iraq´s government. Certainly Iraq is a sovereign country. America recognizes this explicitly. However, recognition of sovereignty does not mean diplomatic disengagement. Withdrawing forces is one thing, withdrawing from the political dialogue so imperative to Middle East regional security is another.

Although six Advise and Assist Brigades will remain partnered closely with the Iraqi Security Forces to provide continued training and assistance, there are looming questions. Despite this important milestone, there remain several antagonists to the Iraq mission. Will Al Qaeda in Iraq and Shi´a militia groups seek to destabilize Iraq? Will inter-governmental corruptness, sectarian bias, or political favors continue to stalemate the fledgling democracy? What will the U.S. and Iraqi relationship look like after 2011?

Perhaps the only certainty facing General Austin at this juncture is one in which neither side can manipulate; the deadline. The current security agreement expires on December 31, 2011. If U.S. troops are to remain in Iraq after this date, a new security agreement must be signed. One can only pray the loss of American lives is minimal.