Declaring success in Iraq too early a big risk

House Armed Services Committee members today examined whether or not Iraqi security forces have been receiving the necessary support needed to maintain calm throughout Iraq. Hearing from Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik who deals with the security transition issues for Iraq, the committee heard testimony ranging from security funding to training of Iraqi security forces.

Funding Iraqi operations as well as payment for their services seemed to dominate discussion. Ranking member Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) stated “Iraqi forces leave their units to go home because we don’t have a pay system to go along with them.” Hunter’s concern stemmed from the province of Bosrah which has had some success in keeping the peace but has struggled to maintain an adequate number of security forces. “Bosrah was tactically and strategically successful in the end,” said Dubik.

Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) asked whether the estimated 640,000 troops that Iraq’s Defense Ministry have promised would be able to handle security for the country. Dubik, who just retired from his position said that Iraq is “handling much of their own security.” Dubik added “nine of the eighteen provinces are under Iraqi control.”

Having Iraq under full security control by the Iraqi security force caused Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Tex.) to ask whether continuing success would prove to cause unintended consequences. Durbik responded with what the military has maintained all along that “declaring success too early is a risk, but full success is not yet at hand.”