operation iraqi freedom (oif)

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Operation Operation IRAQI FREEDOMIRAQI FREEDOM

(OIF)(OIF)

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SAMPLES OF BEHAVIORSAMPLES OF BEHAVIOR

-- SOB #5: Summarize how air and space power was used in the military campaign in IRAQ.

-- SOB #6: Explain the emerging lessons from Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF)

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• After major combat operations in After major combat operations in Afghanistan ended, the US shifted focus to Afghanistan ended, the US shifted focus to Saddam Hussein’s regimeSaddam Hussein’s regime

• UN Resolution 687 codified Cease Fire UN Resolution 687 codified Cease Fire

Agreement for the Gulf WarAgreement for the Gulf War

• Iraq was testing and breaking these Iraq was testing and breaking these agreements agreements

OIF Background OIF Background

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Paragraph 8 stated that Iraq must “…unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless, under international supervision of:” • All chemical/biological weapons• All ballistic missiles with range greater

than 150 km

OIF Background OIF Background

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Paragraph 12 addressed nuclear capabilities, stating that Iraq must “…agree not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapon-usable material

Paragraph 32, with regards to terrorism, stated that “…[Iraq] will not commit or support any act of international terrorism”

OIF Background OIF Background

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12 Sept 200212 Sept 2002: President Bush : President Bush addressed the UN General addressed the UN General Assembly to highlight Assembly to highlight observed violations and observed violations and attempt to gather further attempt to gather further international support for action international support for action against Iraqagainst Iraq

16 Oct 200216 Oct 2002: President Bush : President Bush signed the Iraq War Resolution signed the Iraq War Resolution   

8 Nov 20028 Nov 2002: The UN Security : The UN Security Council passed Resolution Council passed Resolution 14411441

OIF Background OIF Background

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Dr. Blix (chief UN investigator) reported non-cooperation to the UN Security Council multiple times

In February 2003, Secretary Powell addressed the UN Security Council

OIF Background OIF Background

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• 16 Mar 2003: President Bush demanded senior leaders leave Iraq within 48 hours

• 19 Mar 2003: President Bush addressed the nation stating that military operations had begun in Iraq

OIF Background OIF Background

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• OIF Air Campaign = Operations NORTHERN OIF Air Campaign = Operations NORTHERN WATCH and SOUTHERN WATCHWATCH and SOUTHERN WATCH

• Not a single Iraqi Combat Sortie during OIFNot a single Iraqi Combat Sortie during OIF

OIF OIF CampaignCampaign

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• 1,000 ISR sorties collected:

• 3,200 hours of streaming video

• 2,400 hours of SIGINT

• 42,000 battlefield images

• ISR managed from the CAOC, located at PSAB, under the command of the CFACC, Lt. General Moseley

OIF OIF CampaignCampaign• ISR: ISR: Of the 1,801 aircraft used during OIF, 80 aircraft were dedicated to

the ISR mission…RQ-1 Predator, RQ-4 Global Hawk, UAVs, EP-3, P-3C Orion, U-2, E-8C (JSTARS), and RC-135 Rivet Joint

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• Strategic Attack: On 5 Apr 2003, coalition forces attacked General Ali Hassan Majid’s (“Chemical Ali”) home 

• 7 Apr 2003: Strategic Attack operations continued as US planes attacked a building, targeting Saddam and sons

OIF OIF CampaignCampaign

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• Counterair: 21 Mar 2003, Special Ops Forces took control of two Counterair: 21 Mar 2003, Special Ops Forces took control of two airfields airfields

• Numerous Counterair and Interdiction missions were conducted Numerous Counterair and Interdiction missions were conducted throughout OIF  throughout OIF  

OIF TimelineOIF Timeline

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OIF TimelineOIF Timeline

• Counterland:

• 24 Mar 2003: B-52 aircraft interdict Republican Guard positions South of Baghdad

• Counterland Historical Perspective

• Battle of the Bulge

• Battle of Baghdad

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OIF TimelineOIF Timeline

• Counterspace• SCA• OIF Roles

• Weather• ISR• GPS

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OIF TimelineOIF Timeline

• Airlift/Refueling: 24,196 sorties during initial phase of OIF Airlift/Refueling: 24,196 sorties during initial phase of OIF • 6,193 refueling sorties6,193 refueling sorties• 376.4 million pounds of fuel376.4 million pounds of fuel• OIF/OEF airlift one of the OIF/OEF airlift one of the

most extensive in history most extensive in history• Airlift Shortfall IssuesAirlift Shortfall Issues

• Short 10 million Short 10 million ton miles per day ton miles per day

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• Joint Operations have maturedJoint Operations have matured

• Conventional forces and Conventional forces and Special Ops forces Special Ops forces integrated wellintegrated well

• Precision munitions Precision munitions continued to improvecontinued to improve

OIF Lessons LearnedOIF Lessons Learned

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OIF Lessons LearnedOIF Lessons Learned• Areas for improvementAreas for improvement

• Fratricide prevention and Fratricide prevention and combat identification systems combat identification systems

• Cumbersome deployment Cumbersome deployment planning and execution planning and execution processesprocesses

• Information sharing at all Information sharing at all levelslevels

• More bandwidthMore bandwidth

• HUMINT capabilities to meet HUMINT capabilities to meet new GWOT challengesnew GWOT challenges

NEXT WEEKNEXT WEEKApril 12/14:

Chapter 23: “USAF CONOPS”

Chapter 24: “Air and Space Power Review”

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