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In the "Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle: April 2008 Update," the additional elements forming in the Iraqi Army were projected as probable indicators of additional divisions. Additional information and reappraisal indicates that was incorrect. While the Iraqi Army plans to add divisions, they will not be stood up this year. Other formations have priority.
The addition of the two Kurdish divisions to the Iraqi Army remains on hold while the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government wrestle over money. "Baghdad central government also refused to pay the salaries of more than 190,000 Peshmerga fighters through the budget of the federal Ministry of Defense (MOD)." With the delays in this transfer and the time needed for retraining/equipping, these elements probably will not be operational this year.
General Petraeus' Congressional Brief slides projected an Iraqi Army battalion count of 187 at the end of 2008. This 15 to 16 division equivalent count prompted a request for information to Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. The number had appeared to confirm the addition of two more divisions to the Iraqi Army by the end of 2008. The response from Captain Roy provided a correction and mentioned a factor not allowed for in the April update:
"There are battalions which are not aligned to any particular division such as the Engineering Infrastructure Battalion. This separate battalion is charged with the security and repair of Iraq's energy infrastructure. This organization just completed the Unit Set Fielding process on 2 APR."
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