Defending The Defenders

As the Iraq War continues to be a hot topic of debate, many within the U.S. armed forces find themselves defending the United States’ presence in the country, while praising the work troops are doing.

In two informative sessions at ASIS titled “Military Policy and Security Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,” officials from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy explained the various roles of each military branch in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Wednesday’s session, U.S. Army Col. Eugene Smith discussed the dedication of the Army forces in Iraq. Currently, there are approximately 267,000 Army troops there, and most military police units have experienced three or more rounds in Iraq. In what Smith called a “new type of war,” Army military police have found themselves completing new tasks they have never before encountered.

”We learned this since we went through 9/11. Usually, military police duties include guarding sites, escorting convoys and moving supplies,” he said. “That part of the operation lasted a very brief moment. Then we were on to security.”

Today, military police in Iraq and Afghanistan more frequently serve law enforcement and detaining roles -- with a more intense focus on security than in any other war.

“In this kind of war, those special skills are what make us unique,” he said.

Smith also explained what future roles the military police should expect. These include strategic oversight, training, expertise and other “technical things [Iraqi police] haven’t developed yet.”

In fact, Smith stressed, people should expect Army military police to have a long-lasting presence in Iraq in order to fully prepare the local forces for running the country on their own.

“This is going to be a long-term effort,” he said. “This is something we’re going to have to be involved in, and [learning in] eight to nine months is unlikely. Ten years is more like it.”

About the Author

Megan Weadock is a communications specialist at Monitronics.

Featured

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.