Kurds send 3 brigades for surge; Insurgent strikes down 80 percent

World Tribune ^ | February 19 2007

[jmc1969]

Kurdish troops comprise a significant part of the Iraq Army contingent in the joint counter-insurgency mission in Baghdad.

Three Iraq Army brigades from the autonomous Kurdistan region in the North have been deployed to Baghdad as part of the counter-insurgency operation being conducted with the United States. Officials said the brigades, with about 7,500 troops, are already in Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials said insurgency strikes have dropped by 80 percent since the Baghdad security operation was launched more than a week ago. They said the biggest drop was in operations by the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army in the city. "Kurdish brigades are well-trained to fight inside cities and neighborhoods, and they will contribute vigorously in cleansing Baghdad's suburbs of armed men and outlaws," Kurdistan Defense Minister Jaafar Al Barazani said.

Barazani said the brigades have been responsible for the security of northern Iraq, which borders Iran, Syria and Turkey. He said the brigades would come under the authority of the Iraq Army high command.

Officials said the introduction of Kurdish troops would help reduce the monopoly of Shi'ite forces in the counter-insurgency mission in Baghdad. Sunni politicians have complained that the Iraqi-U.S. operation was the cover of a Shi'ite drive to expel Sunnis from the Iraqi capital.

"The U.S. military has sought a significant Kurdish military presence in Baghdad for the operation," an official said. "They are regarded as the most professional of Iraqi security forces."

The Kurdish Peshmerga force, which supplies soldiers to the Iraq Army, was said to comprise 80,000. Officials said the Kurdistan government has sought to increase the force by 50 percent to prepare for any Turkish attack on northern Iraq.

[jveritas]

Officials said insurgency strikes have dropped by 80 percent since the Baghdad security operation was launched more than a week ago. They said the biggest drop was in operations by the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army in the city.

WOW!!! God bless our brave troops.

[wodinoneeye]

Dems continue to call for Cut-N-Run.....

Unlikely that they will be voting on 'Non-Binding' measures when comes time for dealing with Tax increases.

[wvobiwan]

Smart move, that'll help.

Still think Bush needs to get publicly tougher with Iran, but I get the feeling that behind the scenes, he is.

The Iranian fauxtography scandal to me is a good indication that someone is getting inside the mullahs heads...excellent.

[hsalaw]

Dittos to that! I understand the rules of engagement have been changed for this operation, and, if so, high time we took the handcuffs off our troops.

[Issaquahking]

Thankful that the Kurds are in on this effort too!

[jveritas]

The most important thing that is going is the change of the rule of engagements to be much tougher. I think the surge is just a cover for the change of the ROE, and I am very glad that it is finally happening.

[george76]

Good news..

insurgency strikes have dropped by 80 percent ...

.

[jdsteel]

The mainstream media finds it impossible to write or speak about the Kurds. When they published a map of Iraq showing where U.S. deaths occurred over the last 4 years NONE, zero zip nada NOT ONE was from the Kurdish area.

[george76]

Seems like good news or are we just grasping at straws ?

the surge is just a cover for the change of the ROE...

[FairOpinion]

ping

[Convert]

Go USA and Kurds!

[Issaquahking]

Exactly! I'll raise you a Bump, and a ping, about things that matter.

[WhiteGuy]

Three Iraq Army brigades from the autonomous Kurdistan region in the North have been deployed to Baghdad as part of the counter-insurgency operation being conducted with the United States. Officials said the brigades, with about 7,500 troops, are already in Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials said insurgency strikes have dropped by 80 percent since the Baghdad security operation was launched more than a week ago. They said the biggest drop was in operations by the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army in the city. "Kurdish brigades are well-trained to fight inside cities and neighborhoods, and they will contribute vigorously in cleansing Baghdad's suburbs of armed men and outlaws," Kurdistan Defense Minister Jaafar Al Barazani said.



Well, maybe the kurds should muster another 25-30 thousand troops then....................there wouldn't be a need for any more American sons and daughters to be in harms way.........right?

[R_Kangel]

"Kurdish troops comprise a significant part of the Iraq Army contingent."

I am beginning to wonder if the Kurds might have the ability to be some kind of stabalizing influence in the sandbox.

[exit82]

The Kurds are Al-Sadr's worst nightmare. Now we know why he hightailed it to his Iranian masters.

The Kurds take no Shiite from anybody, on rainy days or Sunni days.

[jmc1969]

The US should have used the Kurds three years ago in Baghdad and elsewhere, but too many people at the Pentagon were too b***less and spineless to do it.

[txrangerette]

Not really.

There is no military organized, equipped and commanded like the American military.

Saying soldiers number such and such amount does not tell us the actual capabilities of these forces, other than just the number of boots on the ground.

This operation has always been planned to be JOINT between Americans and Iraqis, for a reason.

Also, an invasion of the Kurds so to speak, having them become a numerically dominating force in Baghdad, where the Kurds are NOT, would present a new problem.

Petraeus will do it the right way. He gets all this stuff better than anyone else, I've heard.

[WhiteGuy]

There is no military organized, equipped and commanded like the American military. True, but haven't our forces been training them over there for the past 3 or 4 years?

Saying soldiers number such and such amount does not tell us the actual capabilities of these forces, other than just the number of boots on the ground. - I agree, but why not REQUIRE them to step up instead of just hoping that they will one day. After all, back in the bush I administration weren't we led to believe that Iraq had the 3rd or 4th most powerful and effective military in the world? I guess that was BS too....

This operation has always been planned to be JOINT between Americans and Iraqis, for a reason. - yeah, but was this meant to be the case for generations to come?

Also, an invasion of the Kurds so to speak, having them become a numerically dominating force in Baghdad, where the Kurds are NOT, would present a new problem. A new problem, like Americans not getting killed and maimed?

Petraeus will do it the right way. He gets all this stuff better than anyone else, I've heard. Yes, let's hope his approach is the one that will lead to the "victory that everyone wishes for!

[Alas Babylon!]

That's funny, because while listening to Rush Limbaugh earlier today the ABC News chick stated that due to the car bombing this weekend that killed 62, the report of a successful surge was "premature". I swear I could hear glee in her tone of voice.