Staff Sergeant Drew Koch, Iraq Correspondent

Staff Sergeant Drew Koch shares his views about current happenings in the Middle East. Everything said in this article is of his own opinion and not to be confused with the official standing of the U.S. Army. This week’s question: What are the politics behind the reason why soldiers are still in Iraq?

Again, I must emphasize that the answers I give are of MY opinion, and are in no way actual Official answers.  I am not able to answer on behalf of the Army, the Government or any office there in.  These are MY opinions and answers.  MY viewpoints, no one else’s.

I cannot speak to the politics of it, but I believe that we still have forces in Iraq because the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), while they have improved, aren’t totally ready to take over all aspects of security.  They are the primary contingent for all operations, but still need a backup.  

We are set to start the troop withdrawals and reduce the number of forces that we have on the ground here.  I cannot talk timelines, as that is a violation of operational security, but watch the news.  They talk about the troop withdrawals and mention when they could start and how may troops might be withdrawn.  

I compare the situation with the ISF to a child learning to walk.  At first, you have to hold the child under the arms and support almost all of the weight, while they get their feet about them.  Beginning phase of training the ISF: we provided the bulk of people and setup training for the ISF.  Next, you move to holding their hands while they try to walk, thus giving them more of the weight.  The ISF provides equal personnel for missions and mission planning.  Third, you only let the child hold your index finger while it walks, making the child practically walk on its own.  The ISF provide the bulk of the personnel and planning for missions to be conducted. Minor coalition involvement, if any.  Finally, you take away your hands and the child walks on its own.  This is where I feel that we currently are.  The ISF practically run the show.  Now, while the child is walking on its own, without the parent helping. The parent still keeps its hands real close to keep the child from falling and hurting itself.  This is what I do now.  The ISF are conducting missions, but we are on standby to help them if need be.

 We are like a 911 call for them.  If they get into a mission and something goes awry, they can call on us to roll out and get control back for them…like catching the child before they face plants.  While the ISF is conducting its own operations, it is like that child.  It doesn’t have the best balance, doesn’t always have the best direction sense, and sometimes runs into obstacles.  It isn’t necessarily pretty, but it is walking and it is getting better the more it walks.

 It would be a disservice to those whom have lost their lives for us to leave if we leave prematurely and this country falls into the hands of another dictator.  This country is holding elections and is getting its feet about it.  If we were to leave and not be here to catch it when it stumbles, then those whom have died will have died for nothing.  I am part of the first “Advise & Assist” Brigade in Iraq.  Our purpose is not to be primary war fighters, rather to help guide our ISF counterparts and to be here when they stumble.