Mission Essential:A Perspective in the Development of the Iraqi CDC

摘要

The mission was (supposedly) simple: Train the Iraqi Chemical Defense Company (CDC) on weapons of mass destruction-elimination operations and produce a well-organized, "full operating capability" element. But because of the many obstacles we faced, we were skeptical about the chances of our success. As a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (commonly known as the Chemical Weapons Convention), Iraq must now be able to identify, transport, and destroy chemical weapons located within its jurisdiction. The CDC was formed to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention, other international treaties related to weapons of mass destruction, and United Nations Security Council resolutions by conducting chemical weapons recovery and elimination operations in support of the Iraqi army and the government of Iraq. As part of Task Force Troy, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives Response Team (CRT) 1, Company A, 110th Chemical Battalion-and later, CRT 2, Company B, 22d Chemical Battalion-assisted in the development of the CDC and the partnering of disposal capabilities until equipment arrived and the CDC could be properly trained.