DSACEUR visits Camp Dublin

Courtesy Photo | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Richard Shirreff during a press conference at Camp Dublin, Iraq, April 13.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.13.2011

Courtesy Story

Allied Joint Force Command Naples     

BAGHDAD - Opening statements by Deputy SACEUR, General Sir Richard Shirreff during his visit to Baghdad, April 13:

Well, ladies and gentleman, good morning to you all. It's now some four years since I was in Baghdad and served in southeast Iraq in Basra. So it is, for me, a great pleasure to return to this country in a NATO capacity to see the work of the NATO training mission-Iraq.

As an important and very successful regional alliance, NATO values its partnerships across different regions of the world and of course, values its partnership with Iraq very much indeed and hence my visit here is to assess the importance of NTM-I to Iraq as a nation.

I've been impressed with what I see. I sense that the NTM-I has made a significant contribution to the professionalism and capability of the Iraqi Security Forces and that in turn has lead to a much safer and more secured environment than what I was here last.

I'm very happy to make this a two-way conversation, so I'm happy to take any questions or points of discussion you would like to raise.

Question and Answers (by General Sir Richard Shirreff):

Q: Ahmed Fadhil Radhi, Sawa Radio: Your visit comes when U.S. Forces are about to pull out of Iraq. Do you think Iraqi Forces will be able to take over this mission? Also, what do you think about the request from the Minister of Defense and American Secretary Gates to leave some American Forces in Iraq?

A: The question of the American presence in Iraq clearly is a matter for the American government. My focus is very firmly on the NATO Training Mission.

You ask about the effectiveness and capability of the Iraqi Security Forces and whether they are ready to take on security. Of course, Iraq is a sovereign nation and the Iraqi Security Forces are responsible for security and stability in Iraq as we speak now, so in a sense, they are carrying out that mission.

I think the question we need to answer is whether there is a genuinely self-sustaining capability in the Iraqi Security Forces. My sense is that there is, but that, without question, the Iraqi Security Forces, from what I am told and in discussions I have had, would continue to benefit from the advice, support and mentoring of the NATO Training Mission.

And therefore, in order to make that capability in the Iraqi Security Forces even more self-sustaining, even more lasting and thoroughly irreversible, clearly the more advise, the more mentoring, the more support that NATO can give, the better, I suggest.

But that depends on two things. The first thing, of course, is whether the Iraqi Government wished that NATO mission to continue because it is very much a decision for the Iraqi Government. So NATO must come at the invitation of the Iraqi Government. And the second thing is if the nations of NATO are prepared to continue the mission and that of course is a political decision for them.

Q: Mohammad Jabar Salman, Iraqi News Agency: Do you think NATO is willing to extend the training mission of the Iraqi Security Forces?

A: The military recommendation within NATO will be that the NATO Training Mission should continue in some form. My military judgment, very firmly, is that the NATO Training mission is contributing significantly to the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces. And of course, NATO values its partnership with Iraq. As I said, the decision as to whether the NATO mission does continue and in what form it continues is a matter for the North Atlantic Council, which is the decision-making body of NATO. And that, of course, depends on a number of factors, not least of course, the cost of the mission and how those cost can be met.

Q: Muhanad Mohammed, Reuters: Do you think the mission of NATO has success in Iraq? In spite of, as I hear, they have only trained 1,000 from the Oil Police? Do you think this number compares with the dangers outside Baghdad, that they will be able to protect all?

A: My answer very firmly is yes. The NATO mission has had success and is continuing to be successful, and I would like to particularly pay tribute here in Camp Dublin to the efforts made by the Carabinieri. Now you mention the Oil Police training, that has only been going on for six months or so, and in that relatively short time, as you say, 1,000 have been trained with many more to come.

But if we look more widely than that, as well as the Oil Police, some 10,000 Federal Police have been trained here in Camp Dublin and I would suggest that 10,000 out of a force of 45,000 represents a very important pillar from senior ranks down to more junior ranks which will have an exponential effect on the rest of the force. And one of the reasons the Federal Police has become such an impressive and capable organization is not only because of the dedication and professionalism of the officers and the soldiers of the Federal Police – the Iraqis, but also because of the impressive and very dedicated training of the Carabinieri. And more widely, of course, away from Camp Dublin, away from this specific activity, what the NATO Training Mission is inculcating professionalism in the Army and the Police as a whole.And the work that has been done by the Army and Armed Forces as a whole, the National Defense University, the War College, Rustimaya, officer training, is all increasing the capability and professionalism and the Ethos of quality in the Iraqi Armed Forces.

Q: Mohamed Jabar, Fayhaa TV: Sir, do you think it is necessary for NATO forces to stay here in Iraq? Do you think the Iraqi Army has enough weapons to face the challenges they face now?

A: In answer to you first question, it is clearly in the interest of NATO to develop strong regional partnerships, particularly with a country such as Iraq, on the basis of a partnership based on responsibility and maturity. And NATO recognizes the most cost-effective and productive way of obtaining such a regional partnership is with such an organization as the NATO Training Mission in Iraq. Of course, it is in NATO's interests as a whole that Iraq remains as a stable and productive nation.

As far as your second question is concerned, as a soldier, I would say all soldiers would say they need more weapons, more equipment, better equipment. So I'm certain there is more development, more equipment to be procured for the Iraqi Army. But if I compare where the Iraqi Army is now to where the Iraqi Army was four or five years ago when I last saw it, I think the improvement has been significant.

Q: Serena Chaudry, Reuters: 1,000 Oil Police have been trained; they have the capability to train other people, and also given the recent attacks the major oil refinery, will the training tactics change to accommodate the different.

A: The answer to your second question I'm going to leave to the experts here. But I'm absolutely certain that in common with the normal military practice, lessons are learned and recycled. As the potential opposition change their tactics, so do we.

As far as the first part of this is to train the trainer, not only training the trainers, but training those who will train those trainers, and that is all part of the self-sustaining capability.

Thank you very much indeed.

• Date Taken: 04.13.2011
• Date Posted: 04.28.2011 06:44
• Story ID: 69465
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ