Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090810-01

Aug. 10, 2009

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DSN:  318-852-1332
IRAQNA:  0790-194-0270

U.S. Political Advisors Focus on Civil-Military Cooperation in Iraq

BAGHDAD – More than a dozen political advisors to various military commands and U.S. State Dept officials gathered here Aug. 7-8 for a roundtable to enhance civil-military cooperation.

On behalf of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, its Commanding General, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick called this first-ever meeting of U.S. political advisors in Iraq. MNSTC-I sponsored the meetings between Defense and State professionals to ensure their efforts remain in sync with overall U.S. government policy.

“We must meet to ensure our political and military goals and objectives are moving in the same direction,” Helmick said. “This conference helps with that, allowing us all to share information and understand a common operating picture.”

“Our goal is to have the absolute best working relationship with our U.S. Embassy that any military organization can have,” Helmick said. “We use our POLAD to enhance and solidify our relationship with the US Embassy. That takes effective communication and a common understanding of our individual roles and responsibilities.”

In the coming months, MNSTC-I will continue to implement the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement, transform the command eventually into an 'Office of Security Cooperation' type organization. With the upcoming Iraq national elections, Helmick said, MNSTC-I’s ability to provide seamless information and coordination with the U.S. Embassy will be critical.

The political advisors are all State Department diplomats of Department of Defense civilian officials who are ordinarily assigned to a U.S. embassy when serving overseas or the Pentagon.

“The advisors are foreign service officers with vast interagency experience and regional knowledge,” said Horacio Ureta, a State Department diplomat now assigned as Political Advisor to MNSTC-I. “The work of political advisors is international politics and policy, not partisan politics. Our history stretches back to World War II.”

The political advisors attending the two-day conference discussed expectations for their roles with senior military leaders and ambassadors from the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY HONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194- 0270.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT:  WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL.

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