New Strategy in Iraq

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MEMO: PERIMETER PLAN FOR IRAQ

FROM: THE HONORABLE C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER, MARYLAND 2nd DISTRICT

DATE: JUNE, 2006

It is my judgment after having just returned from my fourth visit to Iraq on June 4, 2006, that the time has come to change the United States military strategy. The ultimate goal is to create a free, open, and democratic Iraqi government and withdraw American troops and bring our men and women in uniform home. I believe the best way to move forward in Iraq is to have the Iraqi security forces take on more responsibility in securing their country.

Since the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003, more than 2,400 American troops have been killed and more than 20,000 injured. Many of these deaths and casualties have been caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), roadside bombs, and suicide bombers. One of the toughest tasks in Iraq has been to protect American and Coalition troops from these types of attacks.

How to achieve less Iraqi dependence on American and Coalition Troops

• American and Coalition forces should stop patrolling the streets of the major Iraqi cities and should instead guard the perimeter. In many cases, the green zone could be used as the perimeter.
• The Iraqi military should take over responsibility for patrolling the urban areas where U.S. and Coalition troops have been put most at risk.
• American and Coalition troops will still back up the Iraqis in an emergency.
• US and Coalition forces will be “at the ready” with their manpower and technology and will be only be a fifteen to twenty minute Blackhawk helicopter ride away in most circumstances.
• This will reduce the Iraqi dependency on Americans and help them gain confidence in their own ability to secure their country.
• This move will free up American and Coalition troops and will pave the way for a major effort to bring our Servicemen and women home.

Communicate this New Strategy to American, Iraqi, and International Media

• We need to communicate this New Strategy in Iraq to the world through a press event covered by the American, Iraqi, and other international media.
• The new Iraqi government has recently been created and important Cabinet positions have been filled.
• The next step is to let everyone know that the Iraqis are taking control of their own security in their urban areas with the United States backing them up when necessary.
• This will show the Iraqi people that their new government has been created and the Iraqi military are protecting their cities.
• It will also give the American public new hope that the Iraqis are taking more control of their country and U.S. troops are not put in the dangerous situation of patrolling the Iraqi streets every day and American forces can be brought home.

American and Coalition forces will be relieved of the duties of daily patrols and can instead utilize their expertise in other areas in Iraq and can focus on fighting the global War on Terror. Our intelligence, technology, Special Forces, airpower, and mobility can be used to interdict foreign terrorists coming to Iraq and domestic insurgents unwilling to follow the majority will of the new democracy in the country.

Presentation to the President

• I presented this new strategy for Iraq to President Bush at two separate meetings with him and his Cabinet officials at the White House.
• The President said he would consider the proposal and needed to talk to his top military leaders.
• When talking to Generals with the Iraqi and U.S. forces including General George Casey, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force, during my most recent trip to Iraq, they told me they were confident that the Iraqi military was ready to take on this new responsibility in large parts of the country. They felt all Iraqi security forces would be ready by the end of the year.

I traveled with Speaker Hastert to Iraq over the Memorial Day recess. We met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi Speaker of the Council of Representatives Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Iraqi Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Multinational Iraqi Force, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, senior U.S. military officers and individual troops from Maryland and Florida.

The United States military, Coalition forces, and Iraqi forces should be applauded for a job well done eliminating Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Al-Zarqawi was a well known murderer and the mastermind behind hundreds of bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings in Iraq. While the death of al-Zarqawi is certainly a positive development, the American people need to understand that this will not end the insurgency. The insurgents in Iraq will continue their efforts to disrupt the newly formed Iraqi government and kill American and Coalition troops.

Opportunity for Change

• I am convinced that events have transpired in Iraq which present an opportunity to make this shift in strategy, and that progress in Iraq can only be achieved when U.S. forces are less visible, less relied upon, and less a target of those who seek to destabilize the country.
• Shia, Sunni and Kurdish factions have worked out many of their differences and finally built a government which can, and must, assume more responsibility for providing the security their countrymen crave.
• It is likely that coming months may see even more violence and horrific terrorist attacks than at any time since the start of the Iraq war.
• This is precisely the time, indeed the opportunity, for the Iraqi military to prove themselves, with U.S. forces in reserve, ready to assist and deploy our substantial and diverse assets where needed.

Since my last visit in March, the new Iraqi government has been created. Its goal is to be inclusive and bring the country together. The Iraqi forces are sufficiently trained and ready to assume this responsibility. Changing the mission of U.S. forces, redeploying them to perimeter areas, and lowering the profile of the U.S. forces in urban areas will break the dependency the Iraqi military has on U.S. forces. Our ultimate goal is to bring our men and women in uniform home. I believe this change in strategy will help us do that.

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Press Releases on Iraq

• (June 16, 2006) Ruppersberger Votes Against Iraq Resolution
• (June 6, 2006) Ruppersberger Returns from Trip to Iraq