Pentagon Conducts Open-Ended Review of Iraq Policy Amid Widespread Concerns

The US military's operation in Iraq has reached a critical juncture, prompting a top Pentagon official to dispatch a retired four-star Army general to conduct a comprehensive review of the entire policy, including troop levels, training programs, and insurgency-fighting strategies. The move reflects growing concern among senior Pentagon officials and top American commanders over the operation's direction and its far-reaching implications for the military.

Key Takeaways:

• The review, led by retired Gen. Gary E. Luck, will assess all areas of the operation, identify weaknesses, and provide a confidential assessment within a few weeks.
• The assessment will focus on training Iraqi soldiers and police officers to replace American troops, a critical issue that has been inadequately addressed, according to commanders.
• The review is a tacit acknowledgment that the Iraq operation, including the training program, has reached a crossroads, and the time for reassessment is now.
• The active-duty soldiers and reservists of the Army are under strain due to commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and homeland security, with the Army facing a temporary increase of 30,000 soldiers, which may need to become permanent.
• The Army is considering whether to request a policy change allowing reservists to be called up for more than 24 months of total active service.
• The review is part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, mandated by Congress, which aims to reassess the military's strategy, budgets, and weapons by December.
• The Army is restructuring its combat brigades and division and corps headquarters to increase the number of combat brigades to 43, and perhaps to 48, from the current 33.
• The Army's current end strength is 499,500 active-component troops, supplemented by 160,000 members of the National Guard and Army Reserve on duty.

Statistics:

• The highest number of American military personnel in Iraq is 150,000, marking the largest deployment since Baghdad fell.
• The Army ended 2004 with 499,500 active-component troops and 160,000 National Guard and Army Reserve members on duty.
• A temporary increase of 30,000 soldiers would bring the total strength to 512,400 this year.
• The current limit on active duty for National Guard and Reserve members is 24 months, which the Pentagon may consider changing.

Sources:

• (no specific source mentioned)
• a defense official
• Lawrence Di Rita, the Pentagon spokesman
• General John P. Abizaid and General George W. Casey Jr., the two top commanders in the region