Iraqi Citizens Step Up to Confront al Qaeda, General Says

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry J. Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2007 – Decreased violence in Iraq is the result of ongoing U.S. surge operations and Iraqi citizens’ increasing willingness to confront al Qaeda insurgents, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.

Army Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the Joint Staff’s director for operations, provides an operational update during a news conference at the Pentagon, Nov. 7, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“No matter how you categorize it, you cannot deny that multinational force operations against al Qaeda in Iraq have had significant effect,” Army Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the Joint Chiefs of Staff director for operations, told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

Large numbers of al Qaeda leaders have been killed or captured, and their operations have been disrupted since the surge took hold, Ham said.

Ham also credited the actions of thousands of concerned Iraqis who have volunteered to fight al Qaeda. Led by their tribal leaders, those Iraqis have said they “are not going to tolerate this any more,” Ham pointed out.

The general also addressed the slated redeployment of a U.S. brigade from Iraq next month, saying it is part of a process that must be performed carefully so as not to “place a burden on the Iraqi security forces prior to them being ready to accept it.” And although he declined to get into specifics, Ham reported that Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, have been directed to have “a closer dialogue and collaboration” with senior Turkish officials on Turkey-Iraq border issues.

“That process is ongoing,” Ham said. Army Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, the Joint Chiefs’ director of operational planning, “is leading that effort on my behalf,” Ham explained. Sherlock will work with his counterparts at U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, Multinational Force Iraq and the Turkish General Staff. U.S. European Command is working with Turkish officials in setting up technical systems that can be used to provide intelligence that can be shared with Turkey, Ham said.

Meanwhile, insurgent forces in Afghanistan have been consistently thrashed this year during a series of ground battles directed against U.S., coalition and Afghan security forces, Ham reported.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between Taliban or al Qaeda conducted operations, the general acknowledged, since the two groups’ actions in Afghanistan have been known to occasionally overlap. The insurgents’ lack of success on the ground using traditional methods may explain their adoption of asymmetrical tactics that employ suicide attacks and high-powered roadside bombs, Ham said. In fact, scores of innocent Afghans were killed or injured yesterday during a bombing in Baglan province.

Insurgents in Afghanistan may try to launch a few more attacks before the onset of winter weather lessens their activities as it has in the past, Ham predicted.

Biographies:
Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham, USA

Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq
Combined Joint Task Force 82

Army Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the Joint Staff’s director for operations, provides an operational update during a news conference at the Pentagon, Nov. 7, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess, USN   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

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[G8 Diplomat]

God bless the Iraqis and our troops

[shield]

It took long enough. Guess after the brutality of saddamn...it took Iraqis’ time to grasp freedom...and kick the brutal terrorist out.

[swatbuznik]

And Bush knew that, too. They just needed time to see what the possibilities are. God Bless Bush, too, for his vision.

[PROCON]

What’s that in the air?...The sweet smell of democratic freedom...works every time its tried!!

[shield]

Yes, he did. A relative just returned from deployment in ‘Stan...I ask him how it was going...he said it could be better. I ask why...he said we turned ‘Stan over too fast...and the government is working poorly. I ask if nato was also a bit of a problem...he said yes. I told him that’s what the problem has been with Iraq...we turned it over way to fast. He agreed...I said Bush was being pushed...we both decided that today’s politics...and in spite of it....Iraq is now a victory.

[Marine_Uncle]

There is a fair chance, the Iraqi due to their mixed bagged makeup, may in the end mature into a republic along the lines of the USA. Federalism, with a strong responsible central government. As they explore and learn how western nations operate "in practice", not just in theory, they will see the golden opportunities laid at their feet to create a country where democratic principles are held above all else, superseding religious bigotry etc..
Now if they have the wisdom to modify their constitution to provide for a better elective process, e.g. vote for individuals instead of parties, they will be well on their way to achieving a more effective government in the future.

[do the dhue]

[txhurl]

I wonder if they have to breed the assassination streak out of their populace before they can start voting directly for people.

[Marine_Uncle]

I wonder just how many common Iraqi adhere to those ancient warrior instincts. We often do stereo type. Obvious your answer shall be found over a period of time.
History shows us no one ethnic group can claim supremacy to this characteristic. Give them hope, cold beer at the stands, newspapers of choice, huge bags of money brought on by near and sustained oil gas sales, they just may put down the curved sword.
I bet there have been more assassinations in Russia in the way of purges, then all the mid-east countries over the past 100 years.