By Staff Sgt. Amber Emery
Multi-National Division-Center Public Affairs Office
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – One simple word describes the battle space of Multi-National Division-Center: progress. From further development of Iraqi security forces to reviving governance and economy within the provinces, the past two years brought tremendous improvements.
The area, formally known as the "Triangle of Death," has transitioned all but two of its provinces to Provincial Iraqi Control. The provincial governors and coalition leaders plan to have the entire area transitioned by 2009.
The transition process is governed by the Provincial Security Transition Assessment, which outlines and measures the conditions that must be met before the transition to PIC.
"We use those conditions to measure the progress of the ISF and the Iraqi government in each province, and we do that monthly," said Maj. John Beatty, MND-C deputy effects coordinator. "This process has been ongoing since July 2006. It is part of our ongoing effort to empower the government of Iraq and its people."
Each province has shown consistent improvement each month throughout the evaluation process. Five provinces progressively gained control of their security and government over the course of the last two years; the final two provinces in MND-C's area of operations, Wasit and Babil provinces, are expected to transition in the near future.
"There has been some good dialogue between the governors and the coalition forces about how they want things to be, and that is probably the strength of what is going on here; is it is done in conjunction with the Iraqi leadership," said Beatty. "It is not something that we are forcing on them. It is about them and their independence."
Moving to a PIC status is an important event for the provinces of MND-C, but the missions for both CF and ISF will not change significantly.
"We have put Iraqis first in everything that we do," said Beatty. "The truth is, in our provinces, the Iraqis are responsible for the security situation already, and everything we do is through them, so I don't see it being a significant change for anybody."
Technically, there are specific channels to go through before any unilateral operations are conducted. In some ways this will limit our capacity to conduct operations, however; we will remain postured to support the ISF with training and enablers, and remain prepared to support the local governments as they continue to improve their economy and essential services.
"I think [the PSTA] is a useful tool to measure a province's progression," Beatty said. "The assessment process we have is useful in monitoring a province's progression from wherever they are at the start point to eventual responsibility for security in the province."
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2008 02:55 |
| Story ID: | 23895 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 360 |
| Downloads: | 352 |
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