TEN MYTHS OF THE WAR IN IRAQ

Presented by Brigadier General Steve Anderson to James Madison University 27 Apr 07.

The views expressed in this briefing, presented at

James Madison University on 27 Apr 07, are purely
those of Brigadier General Steve Anderson, Deputy
Chief of Staff Resources and Sustainment Multi-
National Force-Iraq, and should not be misconstrued
as official Army/DOD positions.

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 1
James Madison University, 27 Apr 07

Brigadier General Steve Anderson

Deputy Chief of Staff
Resources and Sustainment
Multi-National Force - Iraq

SUPPORT THE FORCE!

 Agenda
 Purpose

 Why Iraq is Vital to National Security

 Key Fact & Current Situation
 The Top Ten Myths of the War in Iraq
 Ten Reasons to be Optimistic
 Way Ahead
 Questions & Discussion
Note: Views expressed are mine alone and are not
to be misconstrued as official Army/DoD positions
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 3
 Purpose
 Present unvarnished viewpoint of soldier serving in
Iraq in Baghdad for previous 8 months
 Provide insights on Operation Iraqi Freedom that may
run counter to how many presently view the war
 Promote understanding of what many believe is “the
defining political-military event of this generation”
 Engage in candid discussion with students, faculty
and other attendees regarding OIF

Stimulate critical thinking about the

War in Iraq in a learning environment
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 4
 Iraqi Ethnic/
Sectarian Groups TURKEY Why Iraq is
Shi’a 60%
so vital to
Dahuk

rd
Sunni 20%
Kurd 17% Tall Afar Mosul Kurd
regional

Ku
Irbil
Other 3%
stability
Shi’a Mixed
Kirkuk

& Su
nni Tikrit

SYRIA Al Qa’im
Samarra
IRAN
Baqubah
Sunni Arab Ramadi
Fallujah
BAGHDAD
Ar Rutbah

JORDAN Karbala Hillah

Al Kut
Shi’a
Mixed An Najaf
Shi’a Arab Al Amarah

SAUDI As Samawah
An Nasiriyah

ARABIA
Al Basrah
i
nn
Su

Iraq situated on sectarian fault lines…

Regional balance and world security
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S
at stake 5
SUPPORT THE FORCE!
 Key Facts & Current Situation
 Four years of War in Iraq (Mar 03 – Present) Focus of
 War costs estimated at $9B/month most
 Iraqi civ casualties (most from Car Bombs) = 3K/month media
 Iraqi mil casualties = 26K (last 24 months) reporting
 Total OIF US casualties = 27K; 3400 US KIA
 Evidence of strong foreign support – Iran, Syria, other Arab suicide bombers
 Fighting 100K armed fighters (SCIRI, JAM, AQI, 1920’s Bde, etc.), a resilient
and adaptive enemy able to regenerate (Ratio of Civ’s to Fighters = 290:1)
 3M Iraqi’s are displaced or have fled to Jordan and Syria
 US Daily KIA Rates: WWI = 199, WWII = 301; Korea = 32; Vietnam = 20; OIF = 2

 Coalition forces executing new strategy w/ 28K additional troops

that peaks in June 07; living with population in order to secure it
Next 6-8 months critical; security situation must improve so that
Gov’t of Iraq can develop POLITICAL solution (vs. military)
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 6
 Myth #1: War in Iraq is “All about Oil”
 Oil industry vital to regional & world stability -- and Iraqi prosperity
 OIF not an effort to keep gas prices low; War in Iraq is all about freedom,
democracy, self-determination and regional security in Middle East
 OIF is combating religious extremists trying to terrorize the Iraqi
populace and dictate political outcome thru terror and intimidation
 Coalition efforts focused on providing security to a good and noble
people/culture that has been subjected to 30 years of brutal repression
 Leaving now would result in a huge human/Iraqi catastrophe:
 Brookings Institute: Pullout would result in 750K civilians casualties (e.g.,
Rwanda: 800,000 Tutsis slaughtered by Hutus in ’94)
 Impact of failed state -- AQI safe haven in the heart of Middle East
 Is “escalating violence” a reason to leave?
 Encourage similar efforts elsewhere in world?

War in Iraq is essentially a fight against religious extremists –

an enemy dedicated to denying the people of Iraq freedom,
democracy, and basic rights of self-determination
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 7
 Myth #2: US is Fighting Alone
 26 nations contributing soldiers (approx 12K)
 Largest contributors: UK, Australia, Poland, Korea, Georgia (Jun 07)
 Non-US KIA (13 nations): 186
 40+ nations contributing contract labor (approx 80K)
 United Nations Security Council Resolutions in support of OIF: 5
 US Interagency: US State Dept, USAID, DIA, CIA, etc.
 Increasingly capable Iraqi Security Forces:
 Iraq casualties: 8123 KIA, over 18K WIA in last two years alone
 Iraqi’s now have 329K security personnel (31 x IA Bdes, 9 x NP Bdes)
 9 of 10 Iraqi Divisions are now LEADING combat ops in their areas
 Iraqi’s established Baghdad Operational Command (BOC) and assumed
command & control of Baghdad and Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon
 Iraqi training base now producing 24K soldiers/year and 26K police/year
 Ramadi Recruits: Nov 06 = 4, Dec 06 = 40; Mar 07 = 1500 in 3 days

OIF is a robust COALITION of many nations, all committed to

helping Iraqis build their security forces to counter violence and
empower them to take control and secure their nation
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 8
 Myth #3: Iraq engulfed in full-scale Civil War
 War primarily a fight between religious extremists (Foreign fighters +
suicide bombers + Al Qaeda) and coalition forces
 Baghdad + Al Anbar Province = still unacceptably high violence; other
provinces relatively safe and secure
 Majority of Muslims do not want to rule the world; most are peace-loving,
hard-working people that to wish to live and work in safety and peace
 Car bombs, road-side bombs and sniper attacks cause most casualties
 Religious extremists not unique to Iraq
 Jim Jones, David Koresh, Eric Rudolph, Abortion Clinic bombers, etc.

 Security improving with over 35 neighborhood police stations in

Baghdad – markets, banks, restaurants, soccer games, amusement park

Violence levels are unacceptable and must be brought down; it is not

a war waged between large factions of the general populace, but a
fight involving religiously-motivated fringe extremists who promote
their cause thru civilian bloodshed and brutal acts of terror
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 9
 Myth #4: Iraqi’s Better Off Under Saddam (1 of 2)
 Since ’03 and the fall of Saddam:
 Democratically elected representative government
 Free Speech and Free Press (TV, Radio, Internet, Papers)
 Rule of Law Complex bringing justice to Sunni, Shia and Kurd extremists
 Free-Market Economy vs. State Owned Industries
 Health Services: 25% increase in immunizations; measles reduced 90%
 Sewer, Water, Trash: 20 projects ($10M)
 Providing water for 5.4M Iraqis
 Electricity:
 Before Mar 03, most of Iraq had 4-8 hrs (outside Baghdad); Baghdad had 16-24
 Now equally distributed, most country has 8-10 hrs
 75% of Iraqis now get TWICE the power they did before war
 Demand for electricity since Mar 03 increased 70%
 Energy Fusion Center being stood up (Joint Coalition/Iraqi)

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 10
 Myth #4: Iraqi’s Better Off Under Saddam (2 of 2)
A portion of the 3704 completed projects  US Army Corps of Engineers
include: working to combat 25 years of
35 post office projects infrastructure neglect
4 training academy projects  US Army Corps of Engineers have
93 fire stations projects
completed 3704 construction projects
155 border fort projects (278 Nationwide)
Cost: $5.0B
13 border points of entry projects
Infrastructure = 80%
36 courthouse projects
32 hospital renovation projects Community-based projects = 20%
51 Primary Healthcare Center projects  4794 Planned Projects: $9.3B
981 schools (325K students) projects
 Efforts ongoing to train Iraqi
97 railway station renovation projects
engineers, contractors, surveyors, etc.
20 aviation projects
6 port projects
Majority of Iraqis have a higher
190 village road projects
quality of life than under Saddam
342 police station projects
– and enjoy freedoms repressed
136 public building projects
under his rule

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 11
 Myth #5: Iraqi Government Ineffective
 New government – only one year old; Dec 05 Iraqi voters approved new
permanent constitution; working Constitutional Review and next round of
provincial elections
 Iraq convened a regional conf of 13 nations (12 Mar 07) – neighbors, US,
UN, Islamic Conf, Arab League; agreements on security, imports, refugees
 Key legislative accomplishments:
 Prime Minister’s Emergency Powers Renewal, Provincial Powers Law
 Council of Ministers Passed Hydrocarbon Law (equitable distribution of oil
revenues) Feb 07; awaiting approval by Council of Reps
 Constitutional Referendum, Detainee Legislation
 Passed 2007 Budget ($41B) -- Budget Execution improvement
 Established Nat’l Ops Center, Energy Fusion Ctr, Rule of Law Complex
 4 of 18 provinces under Provincial Governor control for security

Iraq’s new democracy: natural growth pains but

increasingly functional and credible; services, budgeting,
legislative and diplomatic capability improving
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 12
 Myth #6: Economic Development Nonexistent
 IMF projects 9% growth in economy for 2007; inflation cut in half to 34%
 Saudi Arabia forgives 80% of $15B of Iraqi debt
 USAID helping to develop and reopen many closed banks; many banks
now turning profits; Japanese providing loan guarantees
 Reducing corruption by stabilizing oil prices
 Oil exports revenues = $33.4B; oil provides great opportunity to
jumpstart economy
 Most private and public mgmt processes: manual systems from ’40’s
 DoD’s Brinkley Group working agriculture, contracting, financial and
industrial revitalization w/ key CEO’s (IBM, ITT, Caterpillar, UA, etc.)
 “Art of the Possible” = Irbil; high employment & flourishing economy
 Developing transportation infrastructure to support economic growth

Many positive signs that Iraqi economic recovery starting to get legs;
improving security will stimulate additional investment interest

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 13
 Myth #7: Contractors Cost Gov’t Too Much
 129K contractors: 21K US + 43K Third Country
Nationals + 65K Iraqi (47K KBR) Total Audits of KBR = 25
 17 – Army Audit Agency (AAA)
 Contractor casualties (KBR): 101 KIA, 586 WIA
 5 – Special Investigator General
 General Trend: Services up, Costs down for Iraqi Reconstruction (SIGIR)
(experience, efficiencies, economies of scale)
 2 – Government Accountability
 KBR augments at least 50% of sustainment Office (GAO)
mission--invaluable service for down-sized  1 – DoD Inspector General (IG)
military; provide continuity (many here 3-4 yrs);
organic support would require 3X troops KBR Award Fee Trend
100
 KBR has received $19B since beginning of war
(approx 5% total OIF costs) 90 90
92
88
 KBR works on 1% fixed fee guarantee, 2% award
80
fee possible (earned 88% of available award); 80

max return on investment = 3% 70

MAR '05 JUL '05 JAN '06 JUL '06
 121 KBR employees have received the
% Fee Earned
prestigious Defense of Freedom OF medal
Contractors are providing tremendous support at reasonable cost to
taxpayer; they are patriots equally committed to the cause of Iraqi
freedom that share risks and suffer losses side-by-side with troops
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 14
 Myth #8: Troops Aren’t Properly Equipped (1 of 2)
 Coalition Forces are superbly outfitted
 Body Armor for all deployed troops (stops small arms and shrapnel)
& chemical protection
 Over 25K Armored Vehicles in Theater; no troops off base w/out one

 Hummer – now on 6th major iteration of improved protection

 Route Clearance Equipment Cougar, Buffalo, MRAP, Frag Kit #6
 Steady stream of technology insertions and new developments

 Tactical advantage thru Own-The-Night technology

 High Quality-of-Life in operating bases

 Iraq Security Forces (Army + Police) are well equipped as well

 ISF forces equipment improving constantly -- $7.3B in 2007
 Vehicles & key weapons: 3500 x UAH’s, 500 x Cougar & BTR-80 light
wheeled armor vehs, 900+ mortars
 Aircraft: 80+ helicopters, 3 x C-130 multi-purpose aircraft

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 15
 Myth #8: Troops Aren’t Properly Equipped (2 of 2)
 1200 cargo trucks delivering supplies daily (800 from Kuwait, 200
from Jordan, 200 from Turkey)
 400,000 meals served at DFAC a day. Feed Alexandria, VA
Typical  1.3M gallons of fuel consumed daily – enough fuel to fill the tanks of
87K typical mid-sized cars (over 50,000 vehicles in theater)
Day  Produce 2 million bottles of drinking water daily.
In  Produce 9M gallons of bulk water every day – enough to fill 450
Iraq: residential swimming pools (approx 40 gals/person/day)
 465 tons of ice per day – that’s 1.4 pounds of ice per soldier
 2.8 million pieces of laundry daily – enough clothing to outfit every
person in the city of San Francisco
 400,000 lbs of mail each day in December. Dec = 50 lbs/person

Forces are well equipped and supported; an adaptive enemy

continues to develop more sophisticated and lethal weaponry;
DoD and industry responding to give troops best available protection
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 16
 Myth #9: Morale is Low
 The NEW Greatest Generation (18-30 years old): Tough, committed,
adaptive and professional fighting force – representing you well
 Disciplined and compassionate; don’t pull trigger indiscriminately, go
overboard to protect citizens and respect Islamic culture
 Sign of soldier morale = high retention rates
 Re-up rate continues to far exceed objectives
 Retention “simply astonishing” (GEN (Ret) McCaffrey)

 Troops have seen the polls and realize most Americans evidently don’t
support the war – but appreciate the strong support Americans continue
to show to those fighting it
 Amazing outpouring of mail, packages and messages from CONUS
 Reaction to troops in uniform transiting airports returning from Iraq
 Anti-war messages usually not projected against troops

Morale is high and not adversely impacted by war debate;

180k coalition soldiers getting a tough job done in Iraq; all
Services serving honorably and courageously
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 17
 Myth #10 -- The Biggest Myth: We Have Lost
 New Operational Scheme getting more troops into Baghdad (US + Iraq = 87.5K):
Operation “Fardh Al-Qanoon” (FAQ)
 First time, enough troops to Clear – Control – Retain – Build
 Ensuring security by increasing permanent presence in key Baghdad neighborhoods
 Establishing over 75 Neighborhood Police Stations (Iraqi Army + Iraqi Police + Coalition)
 Securing markets – life returning to city (parks, shops, restaurants, etc)
 National Tips Hotline – all-time high
 Iraqi gov't supporting significant military actions in Sadr City for first time
 Decline in ethno-sectarian incidents (26%) since FAQ initiation
 Iraqis have committed sizeable numbers to the fight (Police + Army) = 329K
 Tribal resistance to Al Qaeda in Iraq, especially in West; Sunni tribes supplying
young men to IA for the first time; AQI, “A War Against All Iraqis”
 Extremist Shiite militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr in hiding and we are working with
Shiite Mayor of Sadr City, his old stronghold

Military cannot “win” this war – can only help set conditions for a
POLITICAL solution; security is paramount and there are some early
signs new strategy working -- expect assessments at end of summer
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 18
 Summary: Ten Reasons to be Optimistic
1. We are fighting for a worthy cause: freedom & democracy
2. US has many great teammates in this effort
3. Level of violence unsatisfactory, but not a full scale civil war
4. Iraqi quality of life and infrastructure improving
5. Increasing effectiveness and ministerial capability of Iraq gov’t
6. Private sector investment climate getting better
7. Contractors continue to serve ably & provide tremendous service
8. Forces are best equipped and best protected in history
9. Troop morale, professionalism and competence high
10. Brutal, high-profile acts of violence too frequent, but we are
making steady progress towards enabling a political solution

BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 19
 Way Ahead
 Engaged in a tough fight with brutal, adaptive extremists
 Apply appropriate coalition political, military, diplomatic,
economic and informational power to:
 Protect population, reduce sectarian violence and allow nation to
establish consensus among Shia, Sunni, Kurd
 Ensure regional stability and a secure Iraq, at peace w/ neighbors

 Empower Iraqi democracy and commitment to law-based gov’t

 Contain Islamic extremists to Middle East
 Enable passing security responsibility to Govt of Iraq

This is the defining international event of

our time… We can win this struggle.
We MUST win this struggle.
BG Steve Anderson, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Dep Chief of Staff R&S SUPPORT THE FORCE! 20