CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — With the U.S. drawdown in Iraq inching closer and closer, the focus has been on how the U.S. will move its military forces and equipment out of Iraq. The 1st Theater Sustainment Command will play a major role in moving all that equipment out of Iraq and getting the troops out of theater. The 1st TSC, which is split-based between Kuwait and Fort Bragg, N.C., must look at another aspect of the drawdown - is Kuwait ready to handle such a massive movement? Brig. Gen. David Clarkson, 1st TSC deputy commanding general, sat down with Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al Mohana and Brig. Gen. Ziyad Zuhair who work in the Office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Operations Ministry of Interior.

Clarkson discussed issues that the drawdown will affect, such as sturdiness of the roads, security, traffic and the local population.

Both nations must evaluate the conditions of the roads to ensure they can handle the weight of the convoys that will be hauling the massive amounts of equipment that has been emplaced for almost a decade.

Security is always a concern, and the 1st TSC has equipped its units with the most up-to-date equipment and trained its highly skilled force to know what to look for when out on the roads.

Mohana stated that “security of U.S. convoys has been and will continue to be our number one priority.”

The U.S. has worked closely with Kuwait on security measures, communication is the key. Col. Khalid Hussain, head of police operations, stated, “communication has been great and has greatly improved over the years.”

Another issue that could arise is traffic. With the massive amounts of convoys coming down from Iraq, the number of vehicles on the roads will greatly increase and will impact the local population. This meeting was to discuss the best possible routes to travel that will be the safest both for the military and the local population.

“I am enormously impressed and grateful for Kuwait and thank them for their hospitality. They are great allies,” stated Clarkson.

Kuwaitis thanked the leadership of the U.S. for their understanding and enhancing knowledge of Kuwaiti culture.

“It is great to work with [the] U.S.,” said Mohana.

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