1 unclassified joint staff command information program for iraq

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Joint Staff Command Information

Program for Iraq

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Purpose

• To increase the level of understanding and knowledge of Joint Staff personnel on three key strategic communication themes for Iraq:

– Why Iraq is Important

– The New Way Forward

– Progress in Iraq

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Method

• Taught by our own leadership.

• Process begins with DJS and cascades down our organizational structure—Chain Teach:

• Have your EA report back to my EA weekly the status of your chain teaching efforts by percentage of personnel that have received the brief (3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 May).

NLT 27 April 2007

NLT 2 May 2007

NLT 9 May 2007

NLT 30 May 2007

DJS

Directors

Deputy Directors

Division Chiefs

Action Officers

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Three Key Themes

• Why Iraq is Important

• The New Way Forward

• Progress in Iraq

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Enduring National Interests in the Middle East

• Regional Stability• Countering Terrorism • Non-proliferation of WMD • Security of American Citizens • Uninterrupted Access to Resources • Promoting Democracy and Human Rights

Why Iraq is Important

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Impact of Failure in Iraq

(1 of 2)

LEBANON

SYRIA

IRAQ

IRAN

JORDAN

SAUDIARABIA

EGYPT

ISRAEL

• Iraq could become:

• A safe haven for terrorists.

• A failed state and source of instability for the entire Middle East.

• Refugee problems could spread, already nearly 2 million Iraqis have fled, 1.7 million relocated inside Iraq.

• Sectarian violence could spread.

• Islamic extremism will challenge regional governments and create instability in the region.

• If we retreat from Iraq, emboldened terrorists will pursue us and our allies, expanding the fight to the rest of the region and to our own shores.

• Interrupt strategic lines of communications and resources and threatens global economic stability.

• Domestic impact of increased fuel and transportation costs, reduced travel, increased costs of goods, domestic security costs increase, airports, ports, border forces, reduced civil liberties.

• The Iraqi people have chosen democracy and should receive our assistance to achieve self-determination, peace, and prosperity.

• We should not abandon the Iraq people’s struggle to build a free nation and we can not yield the future of Iraq to terrorists and extremists.

• It is important to help this young democracy fight off extremists so moderates can prevail.

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Success in Iraq

Increase Stabilityin Middle East

and Levant

Counter Iran’s pursuit of

dominance

Successful model of inter-sectarian

harmonyStable Energy

Market

Positive Impact on Middle East Peace Process

A democratic Iraq will counter the

growing forces of extremism

Model of democratic,moderate, prosperous,

Muslim state.

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Three Key Themes




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• Why did we change:

– Increases in sectarian and overall levels of violence made it difficult for political and economic progress and stability.

– Vast majority of sectarian violence occurs in and around Baghdad. – Strategy did not achieve what we had wanted and therefore required

changes.

• Objective: Security operations create space for Iraqis to reconcile political differences and enable Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to take responsibility for the country’s security.

• Six Fundamental Elements:

1. Iraqis Lead2. Help Iraqis Protect the Population3. Isolate Extremists4. Create Space for Political Progress5. Diversify Political & Economic Efforts6. Nest Strategy in a Regional Approach

The New Way Forward in Iraq

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Key Elements - Security

• New security efforts involve Iraqi forces, Coalition forces, and partnerships among us

– Enhance ISF capacity by increasing size, expanding embedded trainer program, and accelerating transfer of Iraqi security responsibilities.

– Increase U.S. Force levels and reinforced forces responsible for the Baghdad area and Al Anbar.

– Create Joint Security Stations with Coalition, Iraqi Military, and Iraqi Police in each security district to help Iraqis protect the population.

– Primary security focus on helping Iraqis protect the population.– Iraqi conceived and led Baghdad security plan.– Permissive rules of engagement and no political interference in command

and control.– Accelerate transfer of battlespace and provincial control to Iraqis.

• Baghdad security effort hinges on two fundamental commitments by the GOI

– There will be an even-handed application of force by ISF.– There will be no political interference in ISF operations.

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Key Elements - Political

• Reform Cabinet to facilitate even-handedness

• Act on reconciliation initiatives– Hydrocarbon Law– De-Ba’athification Law– Provincial Elections

• Diversify Coalition efforts to foster political development outside of Baghdad; build capacity outside green zone, especially at provincial levels.– Double the number of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs).– Prioritize Baghdad and Anbar, but reach out to moderate forces at the

local level throughout Iraq.

• GOI leads outreach to insurgents—door open for Sunni moderates.

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Key Elements - Economic

• Help the GOI deliver economic resources and essential services to all areas

• Facilitate Iraqi job creation programs– Both short term and long term

• Develop government expertise in areas crucial to economic development– Budget execution, key ministerial capacity

• Synchronize economic efforts with military efforts, especially in Baghdad and Anbar– Ensure “build” phase is resourced and responsive

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Key Elements - Regional

• Vigorously engage Arab states• Counter foreign interference• Strengthen regional security initiatives• Enhance relations between Iraq and Turkey• Focus on the international compact• Actively engage the U.N. in Iraq

– Election support – Constitutional review

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Three Key Themes




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Progress in IraqProgress in Iraq

The New Way Forward is still in its early stages, and progress will take months, not days or weeks. Yet, those on the ground are seeing some hopeful signs, violence is generally down in Baghdad in those neighborhoods where the Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces have established a continued presence. Some displacement of persons has slowed and even halted in some areas, and resistance to Al Qaeda in Iraq is increasing in Al Anbar and other areas in Iraq.

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Security

• Iraq forces continue to grow, 334,000 trained and equipped ISF.

• Iraqis are taking control of their forces, 8 divisions transferred to Iraqi Ground Forces Command control.

• The Iraqis have deployed and are sustaining three brigades in Baghdad.

• 3 of the 5 U.S. brigade Combat teams are in Baghdad conducting stability operations.

• 27 of 43 Joint Security Stations have been established in and around Baghdad.

• So far, Iraqi military commanders have been given all authorities needed to execute this plan.

• No political interference to date—Iraqi Security Forces operations have not been compromised.

• Iraqi Security Forces are evenhandedly enforcing the law against all who break it.

• We have partnered a Coalition battalion with each Iraqi brigade.

• We have increased number of embeds with Iraqi Security Forces, currently over 490 teams embedded with Iraqi Security Forces.

• 4 of 18 provinces have been transferred to Iraqi control.

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Political

• GOI established a senior-level budget execution task force and passed its FY2007 budget.

• Council of Representatives passed the Iraq Higher Electoral Commission Law to run all elections and referenda.

• The Military justice law was passed by the Council of Representatives.

• Council of Ministers agreed to a framework hydrocarbon law.

• Regional conference of Iraq’s Neighbors held at sub-ministerial level in March 07.

• UN/GoI initiated a five-year framework for Iraq’s economic transformation and integration into the global economy.

• Increased high-level engagement with Arabs (including Arab League, GCC), U.N., and EU on debt relief, assistance, International Compact, and to build support for Iraq and counter Iran and Syria.

• Doubled the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams from 10 to 20 PRTs.

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Economic

• GOI obtained $6M from private banks in Mar 07 to revitalize key areas of Iraq industrial base which will result in employment of 11,000 Iraqis.

– Made required investments in firms and factories to resume production.

• USAID jobs creation programs in Baghdad and al-Anbar have resulted in 20,000 new jobs as of early April 07.

• Implemented newly-created Joint Economic Transition Strategy and associated programs.

– GOI passed FY2007 budget with $10 billion allocation for development, capital investment, and economic reconstruction.

• Implemented International Monetary Fund Standby Agreement economic reform requirements.

• Further appreciated the Iraqi Dinar and other monetary measures to control inflation.

– Year on Year inflation now at downward trend, 36% in Mar 07; down from 76% in Aug 06 before monetary policies were adjusted.

• Facilitated private sector development and entrepreneurship through commercialization (i.e., public-private partnerships), business incentives, and regulatory/licensing reforms.

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ConclusionConclusion

• Success in Iraq is critical to our national security interests.

• The implementation of this strategic communication plan is an important contribution to our war efforts in Iraq.

• It is our responsibility to ensure we make every effort to identify and leverage opportunities to communicate strategic themes and messages to key audiences.

• We need to ensure that our military members can speak accurately and authoritatively about these three key themes.

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SCIP Website PortalSCIP Website Portal

• The Strategic Communication Information Portal (SCIP) has the Iraq Strategic Communication Plan with Annexes posted.

• To register for the portal using any .mil address, go to

https:\\jsscs.dtic.mil (unclassified)

• To retrieve the plan, annexes, and briefings, click on Iraq Strategic Communication Plan folder under War on Terrorism in the Chairman’s Topics.

• For technical support contact TSgt Nancy Bell, DSN 222-2876, [email protected].

1 unclassified joint staff command information program for iraq

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