Posted on 09/09/2006 5:30:21 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Army and Police forces in northern Iraq are taking responsibility for more territory as a result of the continual training Coalition forces have been providing, a U.S. commander said Friday.
“In an area of responsibility that exceeds 47,000 square miles, we have leveraged the full spectrum of assets in order to engage the population and neutralize the enemy,” Army Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Turner, commander of Multi-National Division-North, said in a news conference via satellite from Iraq. Iraqi security forces have taken the fight to the terrorists and insurgents throughout Multi-National Division-North. Numerous combined and increasingly Iraqi-only operations continue to disrupt the enemy's decision-making process and disrupt their freedom of movement.
”A year ago, only one Iraqi Army battalion was in the lead in the north. Today, 35 battalions, eight brigades and two divisions have assumed the lead and have been assigned an area of operations," Turner said. He added that the majority of all operations in the region are led by the Iraqi Army.
Now that the majority of the Iraqi army combat units are in the lead, the Coalition is focused on building combat support, Turner said. When these units are fully established, they will provide critical support, such as logistics, transportation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Iraqi police in northern Iraq also have made great improvements, although they are still behind the army in capabilities. General Turner said that more than 31,000 police have been trained in the region, and by December, more than 43,000 should be trained and fully equipped, he said. Almost 100 police stations were constructed this year, and 30 more are under construction, according to the general.
“It was not so long ago that we saw Iraqi police either abandoning their post or throwing down their arms when attacked or confronted by the enemy,” he said.
“Today they are much stronger, and we continue to see progress."
While developing the Iraqi security forces, Coalition forces in the north also have reduced their presence. General Turner said Coalition forward operating bases have been reduced from 35 to 11 in the last year. Important challenges still lay ahead in Iraq, such as building trust across ethnic lines, defeating terrorists who promote sectarian conflict, establishing security and rule of law for all Iraqis, increasing economic growth to provide jobs, delivering essential services and fighting corruption, Turner said.
The key to the future is the development of the political process, which will allow the government to bring hope to the Iraqi people, who are ready to move beyond the country’s violent past, he said.
“The majority of Iraqis are tired of the bloodshed, and this enemy presents no challenge that cannot be overcome,” he said.
“This was most evident after the horrific bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, where we saw the restraint of the Iraqi people in the face of massive provocation by those who respect nothing except their own destructive agenda for Iraq.”
There is a major change in the wind that the RATs aren't even noticing.
They notice but they won't acknowledge anything until after the election.
It's spectacular.
It's peaceful.
Welcome to Iraqi Kurdistan.
Where democracy has been practiced for over a decade. It's not a dream.
It's the other Iraq.
512k:
Thank You
The Other Iraq
Share The Dream
56k:
Thank You
The Other Iraq
Share The Dream
Glenn Beck, the only Conservative on CNN, needs to get hold of this and run with it. O'Reilly or Hannity would only play to Conservative audiences and the libs need to be exposed to this. But, most of them are probably already tuning him out. I really like the guy.
Lou Dobbs is the only other one on CNN worth listening to.
When is Beck on?
Here's a clue to the Iraqi citizens.
Stand up to the terrorists, don't allow them to have shelter and aid in your neighborhoods, and they go away. Yes, it may be painful, but the terrorists fell welcome - they stick around.
Gee, I can't keep up with all the schedules. I think he comes on early evening and then again later. Sorry, I just can't remember. But, I can't remember what I had for lunch today.
My memory is good, it's just not very long.
L
Until Iraqis dump Islam and join the modern world (so they can shoot each other for different reasons than religion...LOL) the idiotic bloodshed will continue.
I know the feeling! :) I'll keep an eye out for Beck.
Having recently polished my crystal ball I'll go out on a limb and predict the next liberal media spin - that Iraq, after our exit, is just as brutal as it was before. It won't be, of course, but it certainly won't be Disneyland East. Only an idiot or a liberal - but I repeat myself - would demand utopia of that shattered land.
When I see subjects such as this I always look to see who posted it. I am rarely surprised as it is usually you.
Thanks for your efforts. These articles are always enlightening.
When I see subjects such as this I always look to see who posted it. I am rarely surprised as it is usually you.
Thanks for your efforts. These articles are always enlightening.
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