Posted on 01/04/2006 5:00:51 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 4, 2006 — The beginning of a new year is a time to reflect on the past and look toward the future. Last year was a monumental year. The year began with the successful election of a transitional government, the Iraqi people wrote and ratified a constitution and recently held another successful election. Along the way, more than 15 million Iraqis registered to vote and an increasing number voted in each event, due in part to an increasingly secure environment. A key to the improved security environment was the growth and capability of Iraqi police and army combat battalions.
The Iraqi Security Forces grew from a handful to 128 operational battalions in 2005 - 74 fighting side-by-side with Coalition Forces and 54 taking the lead in the fight against the insurgents. This, coupled with successful operations to deny terrorists safe havens across the Syrian border and throughout the Euphrates River Valley, have made life more difficult for the terrorists and better for the average Iraqi.
Improvements in these key areas led to the U.S. decision to not deploy two brigades, or approximately 7,000 soldiers, to replace brigades already in theater.
Ultimately this will lead to a reduction of U.S. forces in theater to approximately 130,000, down from the current base of 138,000.
While Syria and Iran are encouraged to abandon their unhelpful policies toward Iraq, focused operations against terrorists will continue in 2006 and advancement along several avenues improbable in 2005 will progress.
Soon, Iraqis will seat their parliament. Results are still pending, but it is envisioned that the new governing body will be more representative of the people.
Once the election results are known, the hard work of seating the government and building the institutions that run the country, such as the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Finance will begin.
A focus on capacity-building programs in ministries and at the provincial level this year, with the goal of enabling the Iraqi government at national and local levels to deliver basic services to the Iraqi people, will allow Iraqis to take the lead in many areas in 2006.
Editor's note: Gen. Casey's commentary appears as a weekly column in "This Week in Iraq," published by Multinational Force-Iraq ( http://www.mnf-iraq.com/ ).
I fail to see the quagmire the dims and libs are always talking about.
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