Pentagon Update

By Wendy Wang
The Pentagon delivered its Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq Report to Congress today. The report is the fourth quarterly report delivered to Congress, and follows the last report delivered to Congress in February.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman and Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Gene Renuart, after briefing members of the Congressional Armed Services Committees held a media roundtable in conjunction with the release of the Iraqi Progress Report.

The report is divided into two sections: Stability and Security in Iraq and Security Forces Training and Performance. The measurement of progress falls under political, economic and security progress.

Political
The report lists the formation of the new central Iraqi government as a major milestone along with increased broad ethnic participation in the political progress. Voters turned out in a record 77 percent for the December, 2005 election, up from 58 percent in January, 2005. The challenge is intangibles that may occur.

National survey conducted in March 2006 show general optimism amongst Iraqis, though the methodology of such national survey, including who was surveyed, what form of polling was conducted, was not included in the report.

Security
Also not included in the report is an explanation of how the DOD defines civil war, as charts in the report shows and upsurge in sectarian violence. Gen Renuart said he did not believe the increase in violence, though admittedly significant, met the definition of civil war.

The report reflects increased trained Iraqi security units. Pentagon officials laud the Iraqi forces’ increase capability to conduct operational leads, however a chart within the report shows that in responding to combat operations the number of Iraqi Security Forces joining coalition forces have remained constant.

The Iraqi Army includes approximately 116,500 trained members, but with General George Casey’s announcement of moving 1,500 US troops, currently stationed in Kuwait, into Iraq, concerns over US troops drawdown was highlighted. The DOD is expected to announce its assessment of the number of troops to be withdrawn on June 20. Pentagon officials say that this is no indicator one way or the other on the draw-down.

Economic
Pentagon official admit to disappointment in the economic as the delay in the formation of a central unity government postponed Iraq’s first quarterly review by the International Monetary Fund and slowed economic growth. Oil production from January to March remains at 1.9 million barrels per day (mbpd), and misses the target goal of 2.5 mbpd. Export of oil is currently at 1.4 mbpd, and thus cutting largely into the government revenue.