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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress [February 17, 2009]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the U.S.-led coalition military operation in Iraq, was launched on March 20, 2003, with the immediate stated goal of removing Saddam Hussein's regime and destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. Over time, the focus of OIF shifted from regime removal to the more open-ended mission of helping the Government of Iraq (GoI) improve security, establish a system of governance, and foster economic development. As of early 2009, the war in Iraq appears to be winding down, as security gains made since the height of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007 continue to be sustained, and as Iraqis increasingly seek management of their own affairs. A new U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that went into effect on January 1st, which confirmed the Iraqis' responsibility for their own security, introduced a new era in OIF and in US-Iraqi bilateral relations. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called the agreement a 'watershed, a firm indication that American military involvement in Iraq is winding down.' In his Inaugural Address, President Obama confirmed the transition and indicated the United States' way forward in Iraq, stating: 'We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people.' [...]Key policy issues the Obama Administration may choose to address, with oversight from the 111th Congress, include identifying how U.S. national interests and strategic objectives, in Iraq and the region, should guide further U.S. engagement; and determining the timing, pace, and nature of the transition of the U.S. effort in Iraq from counter-insurgency (COIN) operations to a more traditional bilateral relationship. This report is intended to provide background and analysis of current developments and options, and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2009-02-17
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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress [December 15, 2008]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was launched on March 20, 2003, with the immediate stated goal of removing Saddam Hussein's regime and destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. Over time, the focus of OIF shifted from regime removal to the more open-ended mission of helping the Government of Iraq (GoI) improve security, establish a system of governance, and foster economic development. [...]. Near-term issues that the new Administration, with oversight from the 111th Congress, may choose to address include determining how best to build on recent security gains in Iraq; assessing 'how much U.S. help is enough' in terms of funding, personnel, and other assistance, to support the GoI but also to encourage its independence; establishing the criteria for further troop drawdowns; and continuing to revise the organization and focus of the Iraqi Security Forces training and advisory mission. Longer-term Iraq strategy and policy considerations include clarifying long-term U.S. strategic objectives related to Iraq and shaping a more traditional future bilateral relationship with Iraq; defining U.S. policy toward Iranian intervention in Iraq; and assessing the implications of OIF 'lessons learned' for the future of U.S. military forces and for U.S. government inter-agency collaboration in general. This report is designed to provide an assessment of current OIF developments, in the context of relevant background, in order to support congressional consideration of these short-term and long-term strategy and policy issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2008-12-15
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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress [Updated October 28, 2008]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was launched on March 20, 2003, with the immediate stated goal of removing Saddam Hussein's regime and destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. Over time, the focus of OIF shifted from regime removal to the more open-ended mission of helping the Government of Iraq (GoI) improve security, establish a system of governance, and foster economic development. Over time, an insurgency gained strength in Iraq and violence escalated. In January 2007, the Bush Administration announced a new strategy, the 'new way forward,' which included both a troop surge and new counter-insurgency approaches that emphasized population security and reconciliation. The last surge brigade redeployed from Iraq without replacement in July 2008. […] Longer-term Iraq strategy and policy considerations include clarifying long-term U.S. strategic objectives related to Iraq and shaping a more traditional future bilateral relationship with Iraq; defining U.S. policy toward Iranian intervention in Iraq; and assessing the implications of OIF 'lessons learned' for the future of U.S. military forces and for U.S. government inter-agency collaboration in general. This report is designed to provide an assessment of current OIF developments, in the context of relevant background, in order to support congressional consideration of these short-term and long-term strategy and policy issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2008-10-28
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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress [Updated March 28, 2008]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was launched on March 20, 2003. The immediate goal, as stated by the Bush Administration, was to remove the regime, including destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. The broad, longer-term objective included helping Iraqis build 'a new Iraq that is prosperous and free.' In October 2002, Congress had authorized the President to use force against Iraq, to 'defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq,' and to 'enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.' Over time, the focus of OIF has shifted from regime removal to the more openended mission of helping an emerging new Iraqi leadership improve security, establish a system of governance, and foster economic development. With that shift in focus, the character of the war has evolved from major combat operations to a multifaceted counter-insurgency and reconstruction effort. [...] The most important short-term OIF issue for the Congress concerns the next steps after the surge -- the military strategies and approaches to be adopted in Iraq after U.S. forces draw down to the pre-surge level. How OIF experiences to date are evaluated -- including policy decision-making, planning, and execution of both the major combat and post-major combat efforts -- are likely to have a significant bearing not only on further U.S. government decisions about Iraq policy, but also on broader, longer-term U.S. strategic concerns. [...] This report is designed to provide background and analysis of Operation Iraqi Freedom to support consideration of these short-term and long-term issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2008-03-28
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Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress [February 22, 2008]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was launched on March 20, 2003. The immediate goal, as stated by the Bush Administration, was to remove the regime, including destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. The broad, longer-term objective included helping Iraqis build 'a new Iraq that is prosperous and free.' In October 2002, Congress had authorized the President to use force against Iraq, to 'defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq,' and to 'enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.' Over time, the focus of OIF has shifted from regime removal to the more open-ended mission of helping an emerging new Iraqi leadership improve security, establish a system of governance, and foster economic development. With that shift in focus, the character of the war has evolved from major combat operations to a multifaceted counter-insurgency and reconstruction effort. […] Some of these include the future U.S. military footprint in Iraq, Iraq as a U.S. national security concern, the future of the U.S. military force, and the distribution of roles and responsibilities among U.S. government agencies in complex contingencies. This report is designed to provide background and analysis of Operation Iraqi Freedom to support consideration of these short-term and long-term issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2008-02-22
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