Detainee Medical Operations During Operation Iraqi Freedom

The United States Armed Forces in Iraq currently provides healthcare for thousands of detainees in U.S. custody. Required healthcare, 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 healthcare. Nearly eight years prior to the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a decay of the Iraqi healthcare system began. Toward the end of the Saddam Hussein regime, money was shifted away from the healthcare 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.