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Metz leads troops in Iraq through transition

Jun-29-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

Lt. Gen. Metz describes what the transition will mean for U.S. troops in Iraq.

[Link to Full Article]
By Master Sgt. Karen Petitt

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, June 28, 2004) – Leading more than 127,000 U.S. troops through a transition of authority from Coalition forces to the Interim Iraqi Government is more of an art than a science says the commanding general for Multinational Corps-Iraq.

Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz said that art comes in the delicate balance of reassigning resources for changing priorities, providing security, and working with the Iraqis to rebuild their infrastructure.

“For some of our troops the … transfer of power will not change their day-to-day mission, but for others it will be a very visible shift in focus,” he said. “We will definitely see an increase in our efforts to help Iraq become more secure and much of our effort will be behind the scenes. We’re looking to the Iraqi people to take the lead in many areas, but it’s not all going to happen by July 1. It’s a capacity that we will have to grow over the next several months.”

He said the transition means that the Coalition force is now a partner to Iraq and that MNC-I will continue to conduct operations against anti-Iraqi forces. As time passes, the Iraqi Security Force will communicate their readiness to take the lead and Coalition forces will begin to draw back, he said.

While the command has been instrumental in restoring electricity, building sewage treatment facilities, re-opening schools and numerous other civic projects, its No. 1 concern is the security of Iraq.

“The biggest gain we’ll have after the transition I believe will be the amount of human intelligence we’re able to gather,” said Metz. “With Iraqis taking the lead I think we’ll see a greater amount of success in rooting out these thugs, criminals, former regime members and insurgents. Our ticket out of here is a safe and secure Iraq, and this transition brings us one step closer.”


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