Federal Drive

More civilians to replace military in Iraq

As the mission in Iraq winds down, a federal civilian effort increases. We get the latest details from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, spokesman for U.S. Forces in...

Federal News Network Staff

January 21, 2011 10:08 am

1 min read

     

“To advise, train, assist and equip the Iraqi security forces,” he said. “Our second task is to continue to conduct partner counter-terrorism operations and our third task is to support and protect the civilian workers that come from the U.S. mission in Iraq and the United Nation.”

However with the withdrawal of the troops themselves being a daunting task, the withdrawal of military equipment also is an issue.

“We have been transferring equipment to the Iraqi forces for a number of years and much of it has been purchased by the Iraqi government,” Buchanan said. “Along with leaving equipment in the area, the military is working on the transfer of the control of bases as well as re-deploying equipment the Iraqi government is not buying.

The security agreement signed in November 2008 between the U.S. and Iraq, “mandates the final transition of the U.S. forces mission by the end of the [2011] ,” said Buchanan.

He added that future U.S. government relations with the Iraqi government mostly will be a “very significant civilian led effort.”

Currently, the State Department has an estimated 1,000

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