On February 17, 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that starting September 1, 2010, the current "Operation Iraqi Freedom" would be replaced by "Operation New Dawn." On August 2 of that same year, President Obama confirmed that all US military operations in Iraq will end by August 31. 50,000 personnel who will support the Iraqi military were left as all other combat brigades crossed the border, ending on August 19. The new operation will put the U.S. State Department in an unprecedented role, as 2,400 U.S. civilian employess will work out of the new American embassy in Baghdad, the largest embassy in existence. The U.S. will also be building two new billion dollar (each) consulates in Basra and Irbil within the year. A major point of these new diplomatic efforts is that in order to have ample security, the State Department has hired 7,000 new private security contractors, triple the current number employed. The introduction of so many new contractors is sure to make Iraqis nervous, who remain uneasy since Blackwater guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians three years ago. Add on a new training program for a more "professional" Iraqi police force, and the need for armored vehicles and helicopters for the diplomats, as well as high tech surveillance systems, and the State Department's estimate is around $1.8 billion dollars. Appropriation committees in both legislatures cut the funding to about $1billion, meaning less security and fewer programs. However, many members of Congress believe that Iraq should pay for its own programs with its wealth in oil, but officials say Iraq is years away from developing resources sufficient enough to stop the need for U.S. spending.
Here's my first opinion on this subject: I fail to see how it's acceptable to, on one end, have all combat troops pulled out, while on the other end, cut funding for the security of American civilian workers and diplomats who will no doubt be targets. For example, the cuts will most likely cause security checkpoints manned by American, Iraqi, and Kurdish joint forces to be phased out. In areas such as Mosul, where terrorist and insurgency are on the rise, department employees will have an extremely hard time moving around safely. Second, we're leaving while Iraq has no functioning government! Five months after an election, and still Iraq's politicians fail to cooperate with each other. What's to stop more extremists and neighboring countries (Iran anyone?) from taking advantage of the gap in organization and leadership, which is exactly what American and Iraqi officials fear. Furthermore, the $800 million police force program was a request from Iraqis, who want us out so they can support themselves. That's good; in fact, that's great. After thirty years of unrest, the Iraqi people are more than ready for the existing occupation to end, which is completely understandable. What I don't understand is how Iraq is open to having no military assistance, but is perfectly fine with accepting large amounts of funding, which we American tax-payers are providing (yeah, I pay income taxes). In my personal opinion, which I realize doesn't count for much if anything, it seems a little ridiculous to get both. Want the help? Great, we've been helping at our own expense. Don't want the help anymore? Function at YOUR own expense.
Having said all that, I think that this was a very poor time to pull the troops out. The country still lacks a government, and 2,400 U.S. civilians will be working in an extremely hostile atmosphere with cuts on their security budgets. The military is acting professionally while we're there, but that's not to say it won't dissolve into an iron fist when the U.S. is no longer involved. Regardless, this shift in operations is a very critical moment for both countries.
