JONATHAN FOREMAN
GIS: WHY CAN'T WE COME HOME?
Thu Jul 17 14:33:22 2003
208.152.73.1

GIS: WHY CAN'T WE COME HOME?
http://www.nypost.com/commentary/727.htm

By JONATHAN FOREMAN

[PHOTO]


WEARY WARRIOR: An exhausted 3rd Infantry Division soldier reflects the frustration of the entire unit, whose homecoming has been repeatedly delayed despite - and because of - its success in Iraq.

July 16, 2003 -- IN THE towns and sub urbs around Fort Stewart, Ga., there are banners welcoming home the heroes of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division.

But the "3ID" - the mechanized division that raided and captured the center of Baghdad back in April, bringing the war to a close six weeks earlier than Central Command expected - isn't coming home any time soon.

Yes, on July 9, Donald Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the 3ID would at last be home by September.

But four days later, the Pentagon suddenly, quietly changed its mind, informing the stunned troops and their shocked families that the return home of its 1st and 2nd Brigades has been postponed "indefinitely."

The wives of the men in these units are up in arms, sending letters to congressmen, the media and anyone who will listen.

"We've contacted senators, celebrities, even companies like Harley-Davidson," Spreanna Pomroy, whose husband is in the division's 1/9 Field Artillery, told The Post.

The reason she and others are so angry is that this is the second postponement of the division's departure. These 9,000 men and women, most of whom have been in the Persian Gulf since September, were due to come home by the end of May.

And the fact is that with the exception of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, most of the units that played a key role in the war's big battles have come home.

But because they had done such a good job stabilizing key areas of the Iraqi capital, the Army delayed the division's departure for 90 days and sent them to pacify the restive towns of Falluja and Habbaniyeh.

There, too, they have done a superb job, their prior peacekeeping experience in Bosnia and Kosovo as well as their combat experience during the war, enabling them to win hearts and minds while intimidating would-be resisters.

But now these men are exhausted.

E-mails and phone calls received by The Post from troops in the 2nd Brigade as well as their wives tell of whole units being put on suicide watch.

A "to whom it may concern" letter presumably written by a 3ID officer or noncommissioned officer, and signed "the soldiers of 2nd Brigade, 3rd ID" is being circulated by wives of the men in the Iraq.

The soldier writes: "Our morale is not high or even low. Our morale is non-existent . . . The 3rd Infantry Division soldiers feel betrayed, and forgotten."

The 3ID has done a great job, but it's hard to believe that no other unit can take its place. As one Army wife said to me, "Can't they just bring them home for 90 days of stabilization leave to see their families and then send them back?"

(Jonathan Foreman was embedded with troops attached to the 3rd Infantry Division from March to May)

====================================
US Department of State/IIP - Iraq Liberated
... 13 July 2003 - Rumsfeld Says US Forces Will Stay in Iraq Despite Difficulties. ... 11
July 2003 - US Project Brings Information Technology to Iraq. ...
Description: Provides news, official texts, reports and fact sheets, links for resources and listserver.
Category: Society > Issues > ... > North America > United States
usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/

---------------------------------------------------
Prepared by the U.S. Department of State
Released September 13, 1999
(Updated 3/24/00)

(PDF version - 2.62MB)
Click here
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/iraq.pdf

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to present the facts concerning Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

There are a wealth of charges and counter-charges concerning actions undertaken by Saddam and by the international community towards Iraq.

Based on publicly available information, the facts contained in this report demonstrate that under the regime of Saddam Hussein, Iraq continues to repress its people, threaten the region, and obstruct international efforts to provide humanitarian relief.

We are helping the Iraqi people in their efforts to bring about a regime that is committed to living in peace with its neighbors and respecting the rights of its citizens.

We want to see Iraq return as a respected and prosperous member of the international community, and as the evidence shows, this is unlikely to happen as long as Saddam Hussein is in power.

As long as Saddam Hussein is in power, we are determined to contain the Iraqi regime and prevent it from threatening the region or its own people. We will also continue our efforts to increase humanitarian relief for the people of Iraq, over the obstructions of the regime.

---------------------------------------------------

Iraq Omnibus Resolution
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/iraq99j.htm

Summary

This resolution reaffirms Iraq's obligations to disarm, to provide for the needs of its people, to account for Gulf War missing and to return stolen Kuwaiti property. All members of the UN Security Council have agreed, again, that these obligations on Iraq are unsatisfied and continue.

The resolution establishes a new disarmament body and monitoring body — UNMOVIC — that maintains UNSCOM's mandate, rights, facilities and immunities. It also includes measures to ensure that — despite Saddam Hussein's best efforts to prevent it — the people of Iraq receive the humanitarian goods they require. Iraq can sell as much oil as it needs to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, but all revenue remains under UN control.

No Council members voted against this resolution. All Council members are committed to implementation. This resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN charter. It is obligatory, even with abstentions.

Disarmament

The resolution establishes the UN Monitoring and Verification Commission, UNMOVIC.

*

A subsidiary body of the Security Council, UNMOVIC retains UNSCOM's mandate, rights, privileges, facilities and immunities.
*

The UN Secretary General (SYG) will nominate, and the Security Council will approve, the UNMOVIC Executive Chairman, who with the SYG, sets up UNMOVIC.
*

UNMOVIC and IAEA submit work programs for Council approval (includes monitoring plan and key disarmament tasks). Overall IAEA role unchanged.
*

Iraq must fulfill key disarmament tasks. Iraq must cooperate with inspectors in all respects: monitoring and unresolved disarmament issues. Iraq must allow access for any inspection.

Sanctions

If Iraq fulfills key disarmament tasks and cooperates with inspectors for 120 days after reinforced monitoring is fully operational, the Council could act to suspend sanctions, provided that appropriate controls are in place.

*

There will be no change in sanctions unless Iraq cooperates and fulfills key disarmament tasks.
*

If Iraq fulfills key disarmament tasks and cooperates in all respects with arms inspection teams for 120 days after reinforced monitoring is fully operational, the Security Council will consider a temporary suspension of export and import sanctions — with effective financial and other controls remaining in place to ensure that Iraq does not exploit the situation to acquire prohibited items.
*

Under suspension of sanctions, Iraq could import and export civilian goods for humanitarian purposes. The embargo on military imports would remain in place, and dual-use items would continue to require prior approval.
*

Suspension must be renewed by a positive vote of the Security Council every 120 days. If Iraq ceases cooperation, sanctions would be automatically reimposed.

Humanitarian Assistance

In this resolution, the members of the Security Council commit themselves to take all possible steps to ensure that — despite Saddam Hussein's best efforts to prevent it — the people of Iraq receive the humanitarian goods they require.

*

Improvements to oil-for-food go into effect immediately. Iraq can sell as much oil as it needs to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, but all revenue remains under UN control. The resolution also makes a number of changes that should expedite delivery of humanitarian items and allows Iraqis easier access to a greater range of basic goods.
*

The Sanctions Committee will define a list of goods for automatic approval. This will not include dual-use items with potential use for either military or Weapons of Mass Destruction purposes. The Secretary General will plan, with UNSC approval, use of oil-for-food money for the local purchase of goods and services.
*

The resolution reiterates the obligation on Iraq to improve the oil-for-food program: to distribute goods more quickly and to help especially women, children, the elderly, etc.
*

The SYG is requested to maximize program effectiveness and report obstacles to the Security Council.

• US Forces Order of Battle - 17 July — John Pike, Thu Jul 17 14:49
• Special investigation: The spies who pushed for war — John Pike, Thu Jul 17 15:10