U.S. spells out mission under new pact with Iraq

December 6, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

U.S. soldiers will still be able to defend themselves, a general said.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The top U.S. commander in Iraq warned his troops Friday to expect subtle changes in combat operations — including obtaining warrants before searching homes and detaining people — when the newly approved U.S.-Iraq security agreement takes effect Jan. 1.

American troops have already begun implementing some of the changes, such as conducting more joint operations with Iraqi soldiers and getting warrants before raids against suspected insurgents.

Iraq’s three-member presidential council signed off on the agreement Thursday, the final legal hurdle to enable the pact to go into effect next month — even though voters will have the final say in a referendum by the end of July.

It replaces a U.N. mandate that gives the U.S.-led coalition sweeping powers to conduct military operations and detain people without charge if they were believed to pose a security threat. The new pact requires U.S. troops to withdraw from Baghdad and other cities by the end of June and leave the country entirely by January 1, 2012.

In a letter to the nearly 150,000 troops, Gen. Ray Odierno sought to reassure members of his command that the new agreement would not diminish their ability to defend themselves, even though new rules spelling out when, where and how soldiers can open fire will be published.

“The new environment, though, will require a subtle shift in how we plan, coordinate and execute combat missions throughout Iraq,” Odierno said. Under the agreement, the U.S. troops must get Iraqi approval for combat operations and carry them out “by, with and through the Iraqi security forces,” he added.

Nevertheless, Odierno stressed that the coalition must “maintain our effectiveness in accomplishing our objectives,” including combating al-Qaida and other insurgent groups. But he said “we must do so with respect for the Iraqi Constitution and laws, and we must continue to treat all Iraqi citizens with the utmost dignity and honor.”

Odierno said the new rules of engagement — which among other things spell out when soldiers can open fire — will not diminish “our fundamental ability to protect ourselves and the force.”

He said senior officers were in talks with the Iraqi government to work out procedures and that detailed orders, including new tactics, would be issued later.

“We will implement the agreement through phased, deliberate steps that preserve security gains, and we will complete our mission with honor and success,” he said.

Among other things, the agreement states that after Jan. 1, U.S. troops may not search homes or businesses without warrants “except in the case of active combat operations.”