Plan calls for split into at least three military sectors
From Barbara Starr
CNN
Friday, May 2, 2003 Posted: 2344 GMT ( 7:44 AM HKT)
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Jay Garner, left, confers with U.S. Lt. Gen. David McKiernan at Saddam Hussein’s Abu Ghurayb Palace, which now serves as McKiernan’ headquarters.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Iraq will be divided into at least three military sectors, each under the command of multinational troops, in future stabilization operations, U.S. defense officials said Friday.
The United States, Britain and Poland will each command one sector, and other sectors might be added. Also, the United Nations’ role in Iraq would be limited to humanitarian operations, according to a proposal drafted by the United States and Britain.
The plan was decided Wednesday in London at the Coalition Stability Operations Conference of 16 countries, hosted by British Defense Minister Geoffrey Hoon.
The operation would run concurrently with any U.S. combat operations. Officials could not say how many troops would be involved in the three-division stabilization force.
The stabilization and combat forces will be commanded by Lt. Gen. David McKiernan, senior U.S. ground commander.
The sectors will not be based on geography or ethnic groups in Iraq, officials said.
The United States and Britain have drafted a Security Council resolution outlining the role they would like the United Nations to play in Iraq. It calls for the international body to play a part only in humanitarian operations. Although the State Department and the Pentagon have differed on many issues regarding postwar Iraq, officials insist there is no conflict between the State Department and the Pentagon on this matter.
Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Denmark, Bulgaria and the Netherlands have offered to join the stabilization operation. Albania has a small number of forces in Iraq. All of these countries are likely to provide military police and infantry if required.
Other countries attending the London meeting who might offer forces are the Philippines, Australia and South Korea.
Qatar attended the conference, representing the Gulf Cooperation Council, and is likely to offer poorer countries financial assistance to pay for their contribution.
Arab nations have privately told the United States that they are not likely to send troops because of political, religious and ethnic sensitivities involving Kurds, and Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
Additional meetings are scheduled for Wednesday in Britain and May 22 in Poland.
Most of the countries are able to provide field hospitals, engineering, mine clearance, civil defense, nuclear-chemical-biological expertise and reconnaissance.
U.S. officials acknowledge that France, Germany and Russia have not been asked to participate in any of the stabilization efforts.
Because it is still uncertain how many forces each country will contribute, the number of U.S. troops needed for the stabilization force is not clear. It’s also unknown how many troops will be needed for U.S. combat operations.
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