BAGHDAD — Most of the committees created to guide the transition from U.S. to Iraqi control of security in the country have yet to appoint members, let alone convene, the senior American general in Iraq said Tuesday.
Committees assigned to deal with U.S.-led combat operations and jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel are among those that have not met even as Iraq moves toward sovereignty, U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters.
"The Iraqis are still forming their committees and who will be on the committees," he said.
There is no cause for alarm, Odierno said, adding that progress is being made in key areas of the transition, such as control of Iraqi airspace and the Green Zone safety area that houses Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies.
Odierno said the Iraqi government was working hard to pick the best people for the dozen-plus committees, which will focus on matters such as communication frequencies, entry into the country, the transfer of bases, and training and equipping Iraqi forces.
"This is about a partnership and a spirit. We know what that is, we know what the intent is. . . . As issues come up, we'll resolve them with these committees," the general said.
The transition accord signed last month by the Iraqi and U.S. governments calls for American troops to withdraw to bases outside Iraqi cities by the end of June and for all U.S. forces to withdraw from the country by the end of 2011.
The pact, which replaces the United Nations mandate that charged U.S. forces with responsibility for Iraq's security until the end of this year, was the subject of long negotiations. Its opponents charged that it jeopardized Iraq's sovereignty and extended America's dominance in Iraq.
U.S. forces have already begun functioning as if Iraq was in charge of national security. For example, since Dec. 1, U.S. troops have sought arrest warrants from Iraqi judges for almost all detentions, and since spring they have notified Iraqi commanders about most of their combat operations.
Among the key U.S.-Iraqi security committees that have yet to meet is the umbrella group for all military policy, the Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is submitting names to his Cabinet and presidency council for approval. The committee is expected to be headed by Odierno and Iraq's defense minister.
