Posted on 09/15/2006 3:52:52 PM PDT by Gucho
By Nancy Montgomery - Stars and Stripes Mideast edition
Saturday, September 16, 2006
MIRI, Afghanistan — They drove by night — more than 70 Humvees, Afghan army pickups, trucks and a mine sweeper.
Howitzers were already in place, and an air show flew overhead: a predator drone, an F-15 and two pairs of Apaches.
The convoy briefing for the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment was brief and somber. In case of enemy contact, “We fight through, we keep moving,” instructed Capt. Bill Adams. And lastly, no one could be allowed close. There was intelligence that a suicide-bomber was looking for the convoy, bound from Forward Operating Base Sharona about 30 miles west to the Andar District in Ghazni province.
Speculation ran rampant on what might be encountered. Ten Taliban fighters? More? Would they put up a fight? Would they already be gone? The grunts joked about watching “Black Hawk Down” again and about their “Arlington or Bust” bumper stickers before heading out.
The mission was to find and rout Taliban from the district, and restore a govgovernmental presence after local officials and police had reportedly been chased from the new district center. The push was part of a countrywide offensive called Operation Mountain Fury.
“Intelligence led us to believe that this particular part of Andar was the center of gravity of the Taliban forces in the province, influencing Ghazni City,” said Lt. Col. Chris Toner, battalion commander. “It’s right near the ring road, it’s in the interior and there haven’t been a lot of coalition forces there,” Toner said. “We wanted to allow the government to come, bring Afghan security forces.”
The convoy took no fire. It did stop several times for communications checks. And it rolled into the dusty, desolate town of Miri, population 10,000, after more than seven hours, at a little after 5 a.m.
The soldiers were tired. “I detest night movements,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Rein. The townspeople just getting up looked on grimly. One elderly man hurried past a sergeant who said, “If you blow me up, I’ll kill you.”
There were no apparent Taliban in the district center, built last year by the U.S. Agency for International Development, just a dozen Afghan police.
“I’m surprised there wasn’t any [enemy] contact,” Toner said.
“Better safe than sorry,” Capt. Jeremy Secrest said.
As patrols went out into the area, searching for Taliban and intelligence, Toner met with village elders. More than 30 Afghan men, in a variety of caps and turbans, spoke in loud voices and wagged their fingers as Toner sat listening, his interpreter whispering in his ear.
“They said they needed roads, better markets,” said an American-Afghan interpreter who asked not to be named. “The colonel said, ‘Security first.’ And there was a lot of disagreement among the Afghans. It’s like 20 guys yelling back and forth.”
The townsmen, like those in most places, according to the soldiers, said there were no Taliban in their town, that they all came from elsewhere. “They’re never here. They’re always next door,” said 1st Lt. John Knox, intelligence officer.
The elders told Toner, who wanted to pay local men to clean up the place before a meeting with government and U.S. military officials, that no one would work. However, a contingent of men showed up Friday morning and started in. And a group of interpreters that went to a local restaurant for food was told they were not welcome, although a second restaurant served them.
“It’s a long process,” Toner said after the meeting with the elders. “You have to have a relationship. If they started giving names and I captured or killed some people, and then we left [there’d be retribution]. And I think they’re waiting to see what the Taliban are going to do.”
The mission to bring the provincial governor to town and leave behind more than 100 Afghan security forces was meant to both intimidate and reassure. Later that night, one U.S. Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb, but no injuries were reported.
A “show of force” included Humvees driving around the town and an A-10 Warthog that buzzed once overhead, delighting the Afghan boys in the streets.
“They got the carrot today,” Toner said of his meeting with the Afghans. “Pretty soon, they’ll be getting the stick.”
Locals try to listen in on a meeting between Lt. Col. Chris Toner and local elders in Miri, Afghanistan. (Michael Abrams / S&S>
Afghan kids watch with interest as Spc. Dustin Wagoner gets a GPS reading in Miri on the first day of Operation Mountain Fury. (Michael Abrams / S&S)
Friday, 15 September 2006
BAGHDAD — Combined operations by Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to target al-Qaida terrorists at the same time as reconstruction projects continue throughout Iraq, Coalition officials told reporters on Thursday.
In a joint press conference, Multi-National Force – Iraq spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV, and Maj. Gen. William H. McCoy Jr., commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Gulf Region Division, discussed progress being made on both the operational and reconstructions fronts.
Since August 30th, over 150 focused operations have been conducted in Iraq, Caldwell said. The operations resulted in 66 terrorists killed and over 830 suspected terrorists detained, as well as the discovery of multiple weapons caches. About 60 percent of the operations were carried out in al-Anbar province.
On the evening of Sept. 12 there was a series of 25 raids conducted in and around Baghdad, targeting al-Qaida in Iraq activities. The raids resulted in the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists, one of which was a personal associate of Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
The al-Masri associate was the leader of assassination, kidnapping and IED cells in Baghdad. He is known to have directly participated in numerous terrorist acts, including kidnappings and executions, directly contributing to enflaming sectarian violence throughout the city. He also played a key operational role in terrorist activities prior to and during Coalition operations in Fallujah in November 2004.
The Baghdad Security Plan is working, Caldwell said, with the levels of attacks, murders and other violence reduced in focus areas. However, the general cautioned, terrorist and death squads are targeting civilians outside of the focus areas, thus continuing to drive high levels of violence.
“Overall, Baghdad’s level of ethno-sectarian violence has been reduced by Operation Together Forward, but remains above the levels of violence we saw before the Golden Mosque bombing in Samarra in late February,” said Caldwell. “As we approach Ramadan, we know there is generally an increase in violence, and the Government of Iraq has ongoing planning to address this.”
The generals also reminded that security operations do not take place in a vacuum. As combined forces work to secure Iraq, thousands of reconstruction projects under way are providing another critical contribution to the country’s long-term success, McCoy said.
The United States has contributed almost $22 billion toward a massive rebuilding effort that’s critical to the BaghdadIraq’s progress toward democracy, he said. security plan and
Understanding the extent and impact of these projects is important to assessing conditions in Iraq, McCoy explained. He noted the American public is bombarded with news about violence in Iraq, but also needs insight into successes of the reconstruction program to get “a balanced view of how we are making a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people every day.”
McCoy told reporters about an ambitious reconstruction plan that’s helping address health, education, electricity, water, sewer, transportation, communications and other needs around the country. It ranges from short-term, relatively easy fixes like trash removal to an ambitious effort to increase power generation around the country.
“We are making incredible headway in Iraq and in Baghdad,” he said. As of Sept. 12, more than 2,800 of more than 3,800 projects planned under the Iraq Reconstruction Program had been completed. Work has started on another 600.
McCoy described how an initiative called “Iraqi First” is ensuring as many contracts as possible for this effort go to Iraqi-owned businesses.
“This empowers the citizens of Iraq to play a major role in rebuilding their nation and helps boost the nation’s economy,” McCoy said. “Likewise, in virtually every project that we are working on today, we work hand-in-hand with the (Iraqi) ministries at the national level and the local director generals.
“By teaming with our Iraqi partners, we are building the foundation for continued success,” he said, “and helping build a brighter future for Iraq.”
By David G. Landmann - Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2006 – The commander of the Army’s 3rd Corps and Fort Hood used the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States as an opportunity to remind his troops -- most of whom have played active roles in the global war on terror -- about the importance of their mission in keeping America safe.
Soldiers and first responders at Fort Hood, Texas, drape a large flag over the second story balcony in the east atrium of the 3rd Corps Headquarters building during a Sept. 11 ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks. The reenactors are (from left) Army Spc. Halldora Raevmann, firefighter Bradley Andrews, Cpl. M. Sullivan, Spc. Rodney Johnson, firefighter Kevin Kees and Sgt. Anthony W. Fitzwater. (Photo by David G. Landmann)
Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno told hundred of soldiers and civilians gathered in the 3rd Corps headquarters atrium Sept. 11 that it’s important to remember not just the nearly 3,000 killed on Sept. 11, 2001, but also the servicemembers who have died since that day.
“Five years ago today, our nation was attacked by an enemy not only intent on destroying our landmarks, but our way of life as well,” he said. “We discovered (then) we had a new enemy, … intent to move the world away from all we hold dear.”
Odierno warned his audience those responsible for the Sept. 11 carnage -- “these brutal thugs” -- are still active. “On the first opportunity, these radical terrorists will strike again,” he said.
The general urged the group to mark the Sept. 11 attacks by reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a similar attack never happens again. “We continue to fight on so Americans won’t have to relive the events of (Sept. 11). … Remember, we fight in Iraq and Afghanistan to make sure the citizens of this country never have to endure attacks like those we suffered on 9-11.… We must remain steadfast in our resolve.”
Odierno urged the group to remember the soldiers, including many from his own command, who have died in the terror war. He also paid tribute to the first responders, the police and firefighters, who died in the attacks. “We must never forget the fire and police departments. Those people give their lives … simply to help others,” he said.
Odierno’s remarks were followed by the tolling of a fire engine bell, a traditional method of paying homage to fallen firefighters. The bell tribute was offered by Fort Hood Deputy Fire Chief Coleman Smith and Assistant Fire Chief Steven Carter.
Two Fort Hood firefighters, two Fort Hood civilian police officers and two Fort Hood soldiers draped an American flag from the second-floor atrium balcony during the ceremony. The reenactment recalled Sept. 11, 2001, when a giant flag was unfurled at the Pentagon shortly after it was rammed by a hijacked jetliner.
Fort Hood’s ceremony was among a range of activities at this central Texas post that commemorated Sept. 11. In neighboring Killeen, several Fort Hood units, including 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and elements of the 1st Cavalry Division, participated in ceremonies at local schools.
Soldiers also joined about 300 Killeen residents in a Sept. 11 Freedom Walk at Leo F. Buckley Stadium.
In nearby Copperas Cove, the Copperas Cove High School Junior ROTC led a commemorative Freedom Walk through Ogletree Gap Park. About 200 residents attended the event, which also featured performances by students from Fairview-Miss Jewell, J.L. Williams and Martin Walker elementary schools.
The Copperas Cove and Killeen Freedom Walks were among more than 130 nationwide in every state and the District of Columbia that paid tribute to the Sept. 11 victims and honored servicemembers, past and present.
(David G. Landmann is a staff member with the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office.)
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Gen. Ronald E. Keys poses for a photo with John McCurdy, Kay Nehring (daughter of Charles Nehring), John Bucko, Eugene Peterson and Francis Goldberg. The five received long overdue Bronze Stars for their heroism during World War II. Ms. Nehring's father was unable to make the trip so she accepted the medal for him. The paperwork for the medals had been misfiled and rediscovered more than 60 years later. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
By Air Force News
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2006 — Reunited in a hotel ballroom just outside Washington, D.C., a small group of former Army Air Corps members were presented with long-overdue medals in a ceremony Sept. 9.
Gen. Ronald E. Keys, Air Combat Command commander, presented Francis Goldberg, John Bucko, John McCurdy and Eugene Peterson with Bronze Star medals they had been authorized to wear for more than 62 years but were never given to them. Kay Nehring also received a Bronze Star on behalf of her father, Charles Nehring.
"It gives me great pleasure to be here today, because this is important business to take care of," Keys said before the presentation. "This represents a lot for the warriors of today are standing on your shoulders, the shoulders of giants."
The men, who traveled from across the country to attend, served in the 39th Troop Carrier Squadron. They were just a few names from a long list of airmen from the 317th Troop Carrier Group named on the orders authorizing the medal for actions made Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, 1943, while stationed in the Pacific theater. They were responsible for delivering paratroopers into combat, and had often come under fire.
It was a case of a missing "z" that led to the evening's ceremony, said Bucko, who spelled his name as Buczko during the war.
"I had written some articles in the past, and one of my readers was a guy who researches military records," he said. "During one of his researches, he noticed that during the war, I spelled my name differently and he wanted to know why I dropped the 'z' later on. I didn't know who this guy was, calling me up and asking about it, but then he also asked if I had a Bronze Star, and I answered that I didn't. Then he told me he had papers that said I was owed one."
From there, the story ended up in the hands of Ann Rothrock, a history buff who joined the 39th Troop Carrier Association with her husband to learn more about World War II. The association reunites members of the 39th TCS annually.
"It was really an amazing story," she said. "Once we were sure the orders were authentic, I started looking up the names and trying to find them and make this right."
With use of the Internet, she tracked down members across the nation. A number of men had already passed away. Some couldn't be found. But she persisted.
"It was so nice to be able to call these men and tell them they were going to be awarded for their service after all these years," she said. "You could hear the surprise and the humility in their voices."
With the association's annual reunion quickly approaching, she got in touch with the Langley Air Force Base, Va., office of the general, who took an immediate interest and agreed to present the medals in a ceremony.
Eugene Peterson, who brought members of his family to the event, said he enjoys being around his wartime buddies again.
"We weren't over there to receive any medals," he said. "You don't remember the specific battles or things like that. You remember the fun times you had with them, the trouble you got into. We all just did our jobs over there the best we could, and just tried to get back to our families."
Friday, September 15, 2006
US outraged as Pakistan frees Taliban fighters
Friday, September 15, 2006
Canadian soldiers arrive at the site of a bomb blast in the southern city of Kandahar in this June 15, 2006 file photo. Canada prepared on Friday to boost its military mission in Afghanistan, acknowledging there are 'serious and complex challenges to overcome' in the war-torn country. (REUTERS/Ismail Sameem)
Friday, September 15, 2006
Canadian soldiers arrive at the site of a bomb blast in the southern city of Kandahar in this June 15, 2006 file photo. Canada prepared on Friday to boost its military mission in Afghanistan, acknowledging there are 'serious and complex challenges to overcome' in the war-torn country. (REUTERS/Ismail Sameem)
By U.S. Senator Larry Craig
Sep 15, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. - America has always been good at battling "isms." In World War II, we recognized that Nazism and Japanese imperialism were antithetical to freedom and American democracy. So we resolved to fight it, and we defeated it.
When the Cold War descended upon the globe, Americans recognized that communism also was a threat, not just to the United States, but to all freedom-loving nations. So we resolved to fight it, committing to a battle that we knew could take years, even decades. We may have wavered at times, but in the long run, we stayed committed. After more than 40 years of struggle, the Berlin Wall fell, and three years later, the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
Today, we are engaged in another war – the war on terrorism. We call it the "war on terrorism," but really, that isn’t right. Terrorism is a tactic, a tool. It is a tool used by those who have aims very similar to the Nazis and the Communists of the Soviet Union and its satellite states. Unfortunately, we have not been as quick to recognize, this time around, the "ism" we are fighting today. But some have begun to recognize this struggle for what it is.
"Since the horror of 9/11, we have learned a great deal about the enemy. We have learned that they are evil and kill without mercy – but not without purpose. We have learned that they form a global network of extremists who are driven by a perverted vision of Islam – a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent. And we have learned that their goal is to build a radical Islamic empire where women are prisoners in their homes, men are beaten for missing prayer meetings, and terrorists have a safe haven…The war against this enemy is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century, and the calling of our generation."
President Bush uttered these words on the 5th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. This president understands the nature of our struggle. It is a fight against the radical ideology of Islamic fundamentalism, and terrorism is its tool.
Don’t take my word for it though. Read the words of the fundamentalists themselves. A translation of one of Osama Bin Laden’s audio tapes reveals his mind: "Death is better than living on this earth with the unbelievers amongst us…Fear God, try to please Him, and do not consult with anyone regarding the killing of those unbelievers." Ayman al-Zawahiri, Bin Laden’s right-hand man, believes that "the Jihad in Iraq requires several incremental goals: The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq. The second stage: Establish an Islamic authority or amirate, then develop it and support it until it achieves the level of a caliphate – over as much territory as you can to spread its power in Iraq … The third stage: Extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq."
President Bush and Bin Laden agree on very little, but they both realize that Iraq is a part of the greater struggle we are all engaged in. Other Bin Laden statements reveal his belief that America will grow weary of this fight and retreat, much as we did in Vietnam, Beirut in 1982 and Somalia. Will we prove them right by leaving Iraq before it is time?
The struggle against radical Islamic fundamentalism is indeed the calling of our generation. To win, we are also taking a broad approach to eliminate the root causes of this extremism, encouraging democratic reforms and economic liberalization throughout the Middle East. Elections have been held in Iraq, and its government is making progress. Our men and women in uniform are helping them along.
Once again, America and the world are challenged by an "ism." We have indeed answered the call, but we cannot not hang up until the work is done.
By Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
Sep 15, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq –Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, discovered a large weapons cache at approximately 12:15 p.m. Wednesday while conducting area reconnaissance west of Baghdad.
The cache consisted of six rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 24 RPG rounds, three MPK rifles, one RPK rifle, one HPK rifle, 500 RPK rounds and 300 API rounds.
Earlier in the day, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. Soldiers found a smaller cache northwest of Baghdad while conducting a dismounted patrol.
The cache consisted of four 73mm rockets, 25 60mm mortar casings, 13 fuses and two hand grenades.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team arrived at the site and performed a controlled detonation to eliminate the threat.
By COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN, COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER - KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Sep 15, 2006
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Three improvised explosive devices were discovered and turned in Sept. 13 in Gayan, Khowst City and Janek-Kehl.
The first of three IEDs was discovered close to a forward operating base in Gayan District, Paktika Province by the Afghan National Army, who responded and recovered the IED without requesting coalition forces’ assistance.
The second IED was found on the side of the road approximately 30 km from Khowst City in Khowst Province by the Afghan National Police, who secured the area and defused the IED.
A local citizen reported an IED located under a bridge in Janek-khel District, Paktika Province to the ANA. The ANA located the IED and secured the area as well as detaining a possible suspect.
“With the help of the ANA, ANP and local citizens, we can secure and dispose of these harmful devices that are being used by the Taliban to kill innocent civilians,” said Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force-76 spokesperson. “The heroics of these individuals help ensure the safety and security of their fellow Afghans.”
Finding and destroying these treacherous weapons that endanger all Afghans is an important task. Landmines leftover from 25 years of war also pose a significant threat to Afghans. More than 20 ANA combat engineers from the 203rd Corps are participating in a three week de-mining training course here. This coalition partnership training will improve the ANA engineer’s knowledge and skills to find, remove and disarm landmines to safeguard the Afghan people.
By Donna Miles - American Forces Press Service
Sep 15, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iraqi and coalition forces captured a key al Qaeda operative and some 70 more terror suspects in Iraq during a series of 25 raids in and around Baghdad Sept. 12, a senior Multinational Force Iraq spokesman told reporters in Baghdad today.
The raids netted a personal associate of Abu Ayyoub al-Masri, Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said. Masri took control of al Qaeda in Iraq after a U.S.-led air strike killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in early June.
While not revealing the detainee's name, Caldwell called him "the leader of assassination, kidnapping and IED (improvised explosive device) cells in Baghdad." He "is known to have directly participated in numerous terrorist acts" and to have contributed to sectarian violence throughout the city, Caldwell said.
In addition, the detainee played a key operational role in terrorist activities leading up to and during operations in Fallujah in November 2004, he said.
The Sept. 12 raids, which also netted dozens of other terror suspects and multiple weapons caches, is part of an ongoing effort to help secure Baghdad during Operation Together Forward, Caldwell told reporters.
Iraqi and coalition forces have been focusing on five specific neighborhoods that were experiencing the most sectarian violence. During the past two weeks, more than 150 focused operations resulted in 66 terrorists killed and 830 terror suspects detained, Caldwell said.
The focus expanded today into the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods, he said.
This approach appears to be working in the focus areas, where violence is down, Caldwell said.
However, he acknowledged that violence in other parts of Baghdad experienced a "spike" yesterday and noted that terrorist death squads "are clearly targeting civilians outside the focus areas."
"Overall, Baghdad's level of sectarian violence has been reduced," he said, "but remains above the levels of violence we saw before the Golden Mosque bombing in Samarra in late February."
Iraqi and coalition forces are working together to help bring these levels down, particularly with Ramadan just 10 days away. "As we approach Ramadan, we know there is generally an increase in violence, and the government of Iraq has ongoing plans to address this," Caldwell said.
By Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
Sep 15, 2006
MUQDADIYA, Iraq – Five suspected Anti-Iraqi Forces were detained and a small cache of weapons and ammunition was discovered when Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces conducted a raid on a suspected terrorist safe house north of Muqdadiya Wednesday.
Acting on recent intelligence, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from C Company, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Lightning detained five members of a suspected kidnapping ring. The men are suspected of performing kidnapping for money, and other terror activities in Eastern Diyala.
In addition to the detainees, the combined patrol confiscated a Mauser bolt-action rifle, a Garand rifle, one mortar base plate, two sets of body armor, 2000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, a bag of ball bearings, seven cell phones, and numerous anti-CF and anti-Iraqi Security Forces propaganda.
The detainees and the cache were transported to Forward Operating Base Normandy where the detainees will be held for questioning.
Palestinians protest Pope's comments
Updated: Sep. 15, 2006 - 21:43
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
About 2,000 Palestinians angrily protested Friday night against Pope Benedict XVI, accusing him of leading a new Crusade against the Muslim world.
Earlier, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the Islamic Hamas group, said the pope had offended Muslims everywhere.
Speaking at a university in Germany on Tuesday, the pope quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.
"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said.
"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,"' he quoted the emperor as saying. He did not explicitly agree with them nor repudiate them.
The Vatican said the pope did not intend the remarks to be offensive, but Muslim leaders condemned his comments.
"In the name of the Palestinian people who live on holy Palestinian land, we express our rejection of the comments made by the holy pope about Islam as a faith, its religious law, history and way of life," Haniyeh said Friday. "These comments hide the truth and hurt its blessed essence."
"We call on the holy pope to reconsider his statement and to stop offending the Islamic religion that has a billion and a half followers," he said.
"This is a new crusade against the Arab Islamic world. It comes in different forms, in cartoons or lectures ... they hate our religion," Ismail Radwan, a local Hamas official, told the rally.
The crowd also cheered when local Greek Orthodox church leaders denounced the pope's comments.
The rally came hours after a small explosion caused minor damage in a courtyard outside a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City, in an attack that church officials feared was a retaliation for the pope's remarks. The early morning blast appeared to have been caused by a small, homemade explosive device. No one was injured in the explosion, which caused only minor damage.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1157913638028&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2006 – The U.S. military’s goal is to win the fight against insurgents in Anbar province and across Iraq, but leaders recognize that winning will take more than just military operations, a top U.S. general in Iraq said today.
“We are fighting to win, but we understand that winning is a combination of a whole bunch of things in this insurgency we're fighting, and as I've indicated time and time again, this is different than any other fight I believe the United States of America has ever found itself in,” Army Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said in a news conference from Iraq. “And I, quite frankly, think that … many of the characteristics of this fight will be characteristics of future fights if we get into them.”
In a telephone interview with reporters earlier this week, Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said the mission of the forces in Anbar province is primarily to train Iraqi security forces, and not to defeat the insurgents militarily. Zilmer was responding to media accounts about a classified report from Zilmer's senior intelligence officer, which reportedly gave a grim assessment on the political and security situation in Anbar.
Chiarelli said today that Zilmer’s comments were accurate, in that military operations alone will not achieve victory in Anbar. Success there and throughout Iraq will depend on political and economic development and on the development of Iraqi security forces able to take responsibility for security in their own country, he said.
“I don't believe there is any military strategy alone, any kinetic operations that we can run alone, that will create the conditions for victory which we must have,” Chiarelli said. “There are economic and political conditions that have to improve out at al Anbar, as they do everywhere in Iraq, for us to be successful.”
Chiarelli stressed that the U.S. is not walking away from Anbar province and will do everything possible to end the violence in that region.
The level of U.S. forces in Anbar province is sufficient, especially given the conditions in Baghdad and the focused operations there, Chiarelli said. U.S. commanders on the ground agree that ending violence in Baghdad is the main U.S. effort right now, and forces in Iraq are aligned accordingly, he said.
“In military parlance we always weight our main effort, and that's what we're doing right now,” Chiarelli said. “We're going to continue to do that till we get the conditions in Baghdad where they need to be.”
The Baghdad security plan is making progress, Chiarelli said. Sectarian violence has decreased, and areas are already seeing economic development. Baghdad is a large city, and operations there will not be short-term, he said, but U.S. forces continue to work with Iraqi forces and political leaders to reduce violence and improve services and conditions for the Iraqi people.
“We're very, very pleased with what has occurred with the Baghdad security plan, and we look forward in the months ahead to seeing conditions in Baghdad continue to improve,” he said.
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