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The lowdown on the Iraqi drawdown

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarrod R. Chavana
  • U.S. Air Forces Public Affairs
BAGHDAD --  More than 140 military personnel assembled at Al Faw Palace Feb. 8 through 12 to discuss strategies on removing U.S. personnel and equipment from Iraq.

The purpose of the Air Force's Central Iraq Drawdown Planning Conference is to bring United States Forces-Iraq and Air Force's Central Command planners together to discuss the Air Force's responsible drawdown plans.

"The U.S. drawdown out of Iraqi is one of the biggest logistical movements during combat operations since the landing at Inchon," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Reynes Jr., the Air Component Coordination Element director. "The conference has brought subject matter experts from around the world; they must use their knowledge to create resolutions and not just submit their own agendas. The planning during this conference must create a working tablet that will allow a seamless transition out of Iraq."

The shift from combat to stability operations is anticipated to be complete by the end of August 2010 with the redeployment of combat forces. The conference attendees spent long hours in general sessions and in specialized working groups. These working groups focused on the topics of air strategy, logistics, engineering, security forces, communications, manpower and services. Within these working groups, USF-I representatives were on hand to discuss their capabilities and requirements.

"I've been very impressed with the level of participation we have received from USF-I, the wing and groups," said Navy Lt. Cmdr Fred Lyda, the AFCENT chief of current operational plans. "Everybody showed up prepared, ready to work and we have seen some great works come out of it.

"The communication across the board has been phenomenal," he said. "The number one thing we want to do is ensure all the parties have come together and that we have a comprehensive alignment and synchronization of our plans."

The working groups and general sessions presented various issues for discussion and debate. Although, some of the sessions where more passionate and tempers reared, the terms and ideas became harmonized and plans of action were formulated.

The U.S. military presence in Iraq is foreseen to be approximately 50,000 troops in advisory and assistance roles across Iraq by August.

"We have a lot of material and personnel here," said Col. Patricia Sellers, Special Troops Battalion commander for the 1st Brigade 1st Armor Division. "We need to move out in an organized fashion and make sure there are seamless operations as we do that. We can't forgo any mission success to ensure we get down to 50,000. So we have to pull all the moving pieces together in order to facilitate that action."

Across the drawdown timeline, the plan gives the U.S. military flexibility to control the pace of withdrawal of U.S. forces based on assessment of the security environment and the progress of the government's transition, to include the readiness of Iraq security forces, the Iraqi police and the government of Iraq.

At the commencement of the conference the participants were thanked for their hard work and were asked to remain focused until the end. Another conference will be held in May to check for any unforeseen changes and clear up any disputes.