BASRAH, Iraq - The goal of stability operations is to strengthen Iraqi Security Forces and posture them as the premier force in Iraq. Successful application of the four lines of effort (LOEs) can quickly realize this critical goal.

The four LOEs are: information operations, defeat terrorism, defeat crime, and improve relationships. Stability Transition Team (STT) Enforcer, commanded by Lt. Col. Gregory Stokes, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, has nested the brigade's mission into the mission of the Basrah Provincial Department of Police (PDoP) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) directorates to accomplish the LOEs campaign.

The police play a wide role in the security of Basrah's encompassing oil fields, international borders, rivers, city traffic, highways, SWATT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team), and Emergency Response Units. All of which work to deter indirect fire attacks on United States Forces-Iraq (USF-I) and Iraqi businesses, infrastructure and government.

"STT Enforcer focused and developed four LOEs to assist, train and advise the PDoP/MOI directorates, specifically designed to strengthen and sustain the force long after the USF-I have left," said Stokes.

Information operations (IO), is the pivotal tool that supports the other three LOEs. Applying all forms of media to the other LOEs reinforces them into the media, expanding the message to the people.

All possible aspects of policing are applied to the lines of effort to make them as effective and successful as possible. Training leads directly to real world application destroying terrorist cells, arresting high value targets and disrupting criminal elements at their roots.

The IO program is vital to the overall success of the LOEs. Telling the story to the citizens of Iraq to inform and ensure them that the police can protect them, and deterring criminals and terrorists by an outward show of public engagement.

IO is the key to deterrence, showing criminals that the police and its MOI directorates are enforcing the law with preventative tactics disrupting their planning and denying them safe haven and ease of movement throughout the province. Finally, the IO campaign increases the situational awareness of the police by involving the public and increasing their human intelligence sources.

The LOEs are a natural tool that the ISF can employ on their own to sustain their forces and apply to any force protection area. It involves the public, the government, businesses, neighborhoods, schools, the police and the army. It develops a nationwide force protection team focused on peace and prosperity.