http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/01/international/middleeast/01COMM.html?hpBAGHDAD, Iraq, May 31 — Senior American commanders here say they are writing new orders to shift the focus of the military's mission from offensive combat operations to protecting a new Iraqi government and parts of the economy while building up Iraq's own security forces.
The decision reflects the commanders' assessment of how best to support the transition to an Iraqi government on June 30. But the shift away from combat operations may be viewed by some Iraqis as a further step back from disarming Iraq's insurgents before the transfer of sovereignty, although American policy remains that the militias are illegal.
The American commanders say there should be no doubt that they will continue to respond forcefully to challenges from insurgents between now and June 30, and then beyond to Iraqi elections scheduled for six months later.
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"But what we've got to do is build this base of support," he said, "of people who want to be free, who want to live under a rule of law and want to be prosperous."
(my note: Is this another example of the "straw man" argument? Like who wants to be a slave in a lawless and poor country?)At the same time, skeptics may question how shifting away from combat operations would make that goal any more achievable now than during the last year, when American forces actively engaged a resistance determined to sow chaos. But commanders argue that a new emphasis on protecting roadways, power plants, utility lines and the oil industry will help generate support for a new government and enhance the security situation as the economy improves.
The shift in emphasis is not expected to affect American troop levels, now about 138,000.
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