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March 7, 2010 - Today is election day in Iraq, a crucial day for the nascent government. U.S. forces have been serving in an "advise and assist" capacity. AMERICAN forces are gradually pulling out of Iraq and thus turning over Iraq's security to its own forces. Much of the focus has been on the U.S training Iraqi's forces to handle their own security. Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Hameed of the 10th Iraqi Army Division invited U.S. Army Col. Peter Newell, commander of the U.S. 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade, to tour polling sites used by the Iraqi army. According to the Department of Defense, Newell's brigade is deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas to advise and assist Iraqi security forces in Dhi Qar and Muthanna provinces. They've been deployed to southeastern Iraq for 10 months, serving as the test bed for the "advise and assist" brigades that followed. Embedding with Iraqi security forces, Newell's troops have focused not on combat operations, but on helping the Iraqi security forces build capability and leadership within their ranks. "We are so far in the background, it is great," Newell said during a telephone interview from his brigade tactical command post in Iraq's Maysan province and reported by the Department of Defense. "I can't think of a better way to end a rotation." Recalling his experience during the 2005 Iraqi elections - when he said in some cases he had to force polling centers to open and election officials to do their jobs - Newell said he sees the upcoming election as a sign of just how far the Iraqis have come. "They have done some great training, and we have gotten a lot of mileage out of the training for them, but they don't necessarily need the Americans with them," he said. "The Iraqis doing this are very competent ... and very confident in their ability to secure the election." Newell's task force worked shoulder to shoulder with the 10th Iraqi Army Division and provincial police and border enforcement brigade in the lead-up to the election. They helped the Iraqis make plans, solve problems, train quick-reaction forces and design mission rehearsals. In many cases, the U.S. troops observed those exercises and provided feedback. In the days before the election, Newell reviewed security arrangements with his Iraqi counterparts. He also talked with them about contingency plans, should something, in his words, "go wrong." Newell conceded that southern Iraq is quieter than some areas of the country where insurgents have threatened violence in an attempt to disrupt the vote. Recent insurgent attacks in Baghdad and northern Baqouba have killed several dozen Iraqis. Newell recognized the big role U.S. soldiers have played in helping the Iraqis progress and voiced praise for their performance. "They  epitomize the best, most professional military any country has ever fielded in the history of our civilization," he said. "These young men and women are so fantastically capable and flexible. I push back at anybody who says we can't do something."I have yet to see them unable to do something.," he continued. "As long as we provide them the right tools, the right training and the right guidance, they can do just about anything we could ever expect them to. [Our soldiers] have totally proven that." Today President Obama issued the following statement about the elections in Iraq: "I congratulate the people of Iraq for casting their ballots in this important parliamentary election. I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process. "I commend the Iraqi government and Iraqi Security Forces for providing security at nearly 50,000 voting booths at more than 8,000 polling stations across Iraq. We mourn the tragic loss of life today, and honor the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people who once again defied threats to advance their democracy. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi poll workers contributed to the effort, as well as domestic party and civil society observers. Iraqi citizens around the world also participated in these elections, including Iraqis living in the U.S. who voted in Arlington (VA), Chicago, Dallas, Dearborn, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco. "The important work of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) will continue in the days to come as it counts ballots, tabulates results and investigates complaints. We also salute the invaluable assistance provided by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)." |
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