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July 7, 2003 Now that the United States has overturned the regime in Iraq, different skills are needed in the day-to-day policing of Iraq. U.S. troops are the best equipped, most powerful forces in the world, bar none. That is why they are singularly unsuitable for the mission they are now being asked to perform, namely police work, peacekeeping and other mundane, yet important tasks related to rebuilding Iraq and searching for weapons of mass destruction(WMDs). These duties would be much better fulfilled by personnel trained and experienced in the role of police and/or peacekeepers, with some U.S. troops still on hand as a military backup. Peacekeepers from such countries as Turkey, Canada, Mexico or friendly Arab/Muslim nations would be better suited to these duties. Police functions in Iraq could be performed by Arab speakers from the Iraqi resistance, retired police from the U.S. and other allied nations, and suitably vetted Iraqis from the former regime, after retraining. This would have several advantages: Freeing up the best troops in the world(U.S.) for other tasks, keeping U.S. troops from being kidnapped by criminals and insurgents in Iraq and used as bargaining chips, and improving morale and retention within the American military. Currently, about 85% of the U.S. Army is deployed overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Korea and other places. One would imagine that a cost savings would also incrue, as stationing over four divisions, plus naval and airpower in the Iraqi theatre is very expensive. Should North Korea, Iran, or some other rogue nation threaten our vital interests, using peacekeepers and/or police in Iraq vs. mostly U.S. troops frees up our forces for deployment to those "hot spots". My case is made by the current situation in Liberia, where an emergency deployment of several thousand marines in reaction to the civil war and humanitarian crisis will stretch our forces thin, while normally not having that effect. Having so many troops overseas (including National Guard and Reserves) weakens our homeland defense and ability to react to emergencies here at home. The current administration should seriously consider the above as a more cost-effective, efficient, and life-saving option than the present policy. ------------ About the author: Fred Paxson is a Mortgage Broker in Biloxi MS and was formerly an Analyst with Army Intelligence. Email Fred Paxson: fredpaxson@cs.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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