Prospective Leaders Being Trained in Washington. U.S. officials are moving rapidly to create a civilian-run Iraqi Defense Ministry that will work in tandem with the American military after the handover of Iraqi sovereignty on June 30 and could form the nucleus of a strategic alliance between the two countries. Since February, about 50 Iraqi officials have been flown to Washington to attend a Pentagon-run school on how to recruit, train and equip a military that operates under civilian leadership, according to the retired U.S. Army colonel who directs the program. A class of 25 graduated on Friday from the three-week course, which included meetings with officials in Congress and the Defense and State departments. In addition, a former militia leader has been picked to lead Iraq’s new defense bureaucracy, according to two people familiar with the decision. Bruska Shaways, the former commander of an Iraqi Kurd paramilitary force, aided U.S. commanders in northern Iraq last year during the invasion of the country. His appointment comes as the U.S. military is seeking to disband independent Iraqi militias. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.