U.S. to have minor role in Iraq vote

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U.S. to have minor role in Iraq vote
By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, January 20, 2009

BAGHDAD — American combat units in Iraq will have a much smaller role to play in this year’s provincial elections than they did when the elections first took place four years ago, according to military leaders.

U.S. forces oversaw all parts of the 2005 elections, from protecting the polling sites to guarding the ballots. This year, though, Iraqi forces are in charge of making sure the elections run smoothly.

Voters will see this for themselves Jan. 31 when they head to the polling sites. Each site in the Rasheed district will be protected by three rings of security, said Col. Ted Martin, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, the American unit for the area.

Iraqi police will man the inner ring, and Iraqi National Police will man the middle ring. American soldiers will be stationed only at the outer ring, and they will share duties with the National Police.

"You’re not going to see Americans at the polling sites," Martin said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60119