Detainee Medical Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom: Determination of a Transition Plan
Abstract
The United States Armed Forces in Iraq currently provides health care for thousands of detainees in U.S. custody. Required health care, in accordance with Department of Defense Directive and U.S. Army regulation, for detainees surpasses current deployable U.S. Army medical capabilities. Planning for the Iraqi government to take over essential services must include the provision for detainee health care. Nearly eight years prior to the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a decay of the Iraqi health care system began. Toward the end of the Saddam Hussein regime, money was shifted away from the health care system to bolster the military capability. Currently, a lack of security has effected reconstruction projects and resulted in hundreds of doctors and nurses to flee the country for personal safety as they are routinely kidnapped and killed by insurgent forces. This study answers the question: In light of international guidelines, Iraqi capabilities and U.S. obligations, can a transition plan be developed to allow the Iraqi government to assume the medical operations for detention operations? The study leads to the conclusion that U.S. Army regulations and doctrine does not fully support the Department of Defense Detainee Operations Policy. Additionally, new classifications of detained persons by U.S. Government have added confusion as to the treatment required and placed restraints for disposition of detainees on U.S. Army units conducting detention operations. Finally, the lack of security has dramatically slowed reconstruction projects, including hospitals and clinics; along with the inability of the Iraqi Government to maintain proper checks and balances among ministries, has permitted a continual decline of the medical capabilities throughout the country. Removal of discrepancies throughout DoD's detainee operations policy, acceptance of the Iraqi standard of detention health care are elements to facilitate a detainee medical operation transition plan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA471445
Entities
People
- Matthew A. Sheaffer
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College