Iraq: a Forgotten Mission: The United States Needs to Sustain a Diplomatic Presence to Preserve Gains and Avoid Waste as the U.S. Military Leaves Iraq. Follow-up Report on Preparing for Post-2011 U.S. Presence in Iraq

摘要

The United States faces a unique and critical period in Iraq. Securing the hard-won gains of nearly eight years of struggle that have cost more than 4,000 American service members' lives depends on sustaining a large and effective diplomatic footprint once the U.S. military completes its agreed-upon withdrawal by December 31, 2011. Doing so requires that the State Department expand its presence while taking on many large tasks now performed by the U.S. military, until the host government has stabilized enough to provide customary levels of support and security. State's Iraq mission after 2011 will require using thousands more contractors. Yet State is short of needed funding and program-management staff. Very little time remains for State to develop requirements, conduct negotiations, and award competitive contracts for work that must begin at once. Inadequate support risks waste of funds and failure for U.S. policy objectives in Iraq and the region.