This news obviously too favorable to see the light of day in a U.S. newspaper.
Posted on 02/28/2007 8:26:44 PM PST by jmc1969
This is why I have been pissed off at the Pentagon for a long time for bady under equipping the Iraqi Army. Having them ride around on the back of pickup trucks and giving them no heavy weapons or artillery.
In order for the Iraqi Army to do what we want them to do they have to have faith that they are strong and the enemy is weak. The fact that the Medhi Army has been for a long time been getting better weapons and much better pay has been a real mistake on our part.
This news obviously too favorable to see the light of day in a U.S. newspaper.
Gateway Pundit
News On the Surge From a Family in Baghdad
The surge in Bahgdad is going better that expected according to one Iraqi family living in Baghdad.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/02/news-on-surge-from-family-in-baghdad.html
The following is a Haider Ajina translation of a news article from Iraq’s "Alsabah Aljadeed" or "New Sabah" on February 26, 2007:
Al-Maliki said, hundreds killed and arrested in the new security operation
Iraqi PM Noori Al-Maliki said, "U.S. and Iraqi forces killed around 400 armed suspects since the beginning of the Baghdad security operation." Al-Maliki visited the HQ for the security operations and prompted them not to fall under sectarian influence. Al-Maliki said in a press conference that 426-armed suspects have been arrested, and another similar number were killed since the beginning of the operation in mid February.
The Iraqi interior ministry reported that in northern Baghdad Iraqi forces with U.S. Air support have killed dozens of armed insurgents in an insurgent camp early Saturday morning. General Abdul Kareem Khalaf, spokesman for the ministry, said, "a large contingency of Iraqi forces clashed with armed men in a rural area at dawn and U.S. air strikes destroyed the insurgent base."
Al-Maliki said, "Baghdad security plan will spread to other provinces as soon as it is successful in calming Baghdad. I am very optimistic about this plan, because of the support and cooperation between civilians and the security forces. There will be no peace for all the outlaws and all must know there will not be a country or security unless Laws rule. The government alone has the responsibility for the security of its citizen’s and national security." He added, "the country will pursue all outlaws regardless of their affiliation. There will be no leniency for any outlaw and all security procedures will be implemented with out hesitation and completely devoid of political influence."
General Abud Qatier commander of operation "Enforce the Law" (or Rule of Law) briefed the PM on the progress of operations and implementations achieved by the Iraqi forces daily. With its goal of defeating terrorism at its core and bringing about security to Baghdad. The PM asserted the importance of respecting the rights of the individual by the security forces, and the manner in which they treat citizens especially as they search their homes, he added, "a soldier must not discriminate in his treatment of suspects and those who do will be dealt with accordingly. The soldiers are also responsible for spreading understanding, equality and brotherhood between all Iraqi sects."
Al-Maliki said, "our battle with the outlaws is a battle of intelligence (as in uncovering secrets and information) and the security effort will help disassemble the foundation for the terrorist organizations. The average citizen has become the most effective and reliable intelligence source. The cooperation between citizens and the Iraqi security forces and the cooperation between the Iraqi security forces and the multi national forces will solidify our victory. The PM pointed out the positive outcomes of the operation over the last few days. Dismantling a number of terrorist cells, the foiling of many plots to kill civilians and the return of hundreds of families to their original homes. The country will provide returning families with security as well as financial rewards for damages. I promise that security officers will stay until security is achieved."
The PM was asked about attacks by terrorist groups against some of the returning families. He replied that these terrorists will be dealt with, with no leniency and will be arrested and sent to justice no matter what their affiliation. The PM was then asked about the meddling of some politicians with security operations and the statements they make (negative ones). The PM said, "I have instructed the commanders, of operation Enforce the Law, to not allow any political figure to interfere with security matters. These politicians have official governmental channels to use if they want information. As to their statements, it is a pity that some politicians have their own political agenda and some long for the old days. They must respect the national decision and the Iraqi people’s will, which the Iraqi people expressed at the ballet box. Mr. Abdul Kadir Mohamed Jasim the defense Minster and General Abud Qatier commander of operation ‘Enforce the Law’ accompanied PM.
Haider Ajina comments:
Operation enforce the law is so far going better than expected and appears to continue this way. I spoke to my father in Baghdad, he said that the street is very impressed by the operation and receiving much cooperation from the people. They have done in four days what we thought would take them over a month.
Shiites love the Americans and want them stay to help the Iraqi security stand on its feet he said.
He also told me the street knows that Iran is no great friend of Iraq. Reading the PM, Al-Maliki, order the soldiers to respect the rights of the individual is still amazing to me. What large difference from just four short years ago!
I am not worried about my family from the security forces; I am only worried about them from the terrorists. Before we liberated Iraq the security forces were who worried me. This is the same sentiment my family has in Baghdad and Nejef. They now trust and look to the security forces for help. What a turn around, and all squarely due to our training of these new Iraqis and the Iraqi’s willingness to learn and serve.
There have been problems with some of the security personnel and most of those are being and have been addressed, as is evident from the PM’s directive of nondiscrimination and no favoritism. The support of the average citizen in Baghdad for this operation is nothing short of remarkable. Of course, this only comes if the citizens feel safe tipping off the Iraqi security forces. This also shows that the terrorists are loosing much of their support base in Iraq.
Regards,
Haider Ajina
You won't hear that on the nightly news!
Having them ride around on the back of pickup trucks and giving them no heavy weapons or artillery.
This says a lot about the Iraqi Army..and all of it good.
The Iraqi Army is quite respectable. I believe it should be more then doubled in size from 130,000 troops to 300,000 troops.
As long as the Iraqi Army believes they are the real power they will go after the enemies we want. If we decide to pull out the rug from them before we decide to really arm them, which I worry will happen, the only place they can go for equipment and help is Iran.
BTTT!
BTTT
PASSIN' IT ON WITH A BUMP!!
A story I recall reading here a while ago. It seems there was a joint US/Iraqi checkpoint that stopped a suspicious person, when questioned by the americans the guy wouldn't say anything...they told him they were going to turn him over to the Iraqi army and (suddenly) the guy couldn't talk enough.
The Iraqi Army if doubled in sized and provided with American weaponry instead of Warsaw Pact junk would in my view be able to secure Iraq from threats both foreign and domestic instead of being wrongly seen as this generation's Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
If we gave the Iraqi Army American weapons it would also make them be relient on us long term as we could always pull the plug on the spare parts for the equipment in which case their equipment would all be junk in no time.
Ping
You have a good perspective on the situation. These are not good situations to build confidence for the Iraqi Army.
One of the main reasons why warlords like Sadr have had such influence in Iraq is because of the fear that we will leave soon and when we do that Iraqi Army and police won't have what it takes to protect the government.
If the Iraqi Army feels they are strong, so will the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi government.
And, not riding around in the back on pickup trucks and having heavy weapons would go a long way to making them feel strong. That has finally started happening as the Iraqi Army has started to get some humvees.
I know the Donaldson's co. would be more than happy to sell them filters for Abrams and Bradleys.
The thing that's nice from the Iraqi prespective with using warsaw pact equiptmemt is it's made for use by (relatively) unsophisticated troops.
General Jay Gardner announced his plan to revamp the Iraqi Army a few weeks back. Some of his ideas were good I thought.
----
"Robustly" train, re-equip with American modern arms rather than Warsaw Pact junk and advise all 120 Iraqi army battalions with American combat veterans rather than neophytes.
Assign to each Iraqi battalion 20 to 25 American advisers, all combat tested, from the Army or the Marine Corps. The American advisory team would consist of a lieutenant colonel as its commander; a captain or major experienced in supplying beans and bullets, called a logistician; an artillery forward observer to call in artillery or air support; a radio operator; a medic; a captain and five sergeants with each of the three Iraqi companies in the battalion.
Structure the career paths of American advisers so they are rewarded if they make the Iraqi battalion battle ready and penalized if they do not. Once the American advisory team certified the Iraqi battalion was combat ready, it would be inserted with that same battalion in a contested area now occupied by an American battalion. The advisory team would stick with the Iraqi battalion. It would have a quick channel for calling in helicopter gunships, fighter bombers, artillery fire and medical evacuation choppers with minimal delay. Pickup points for the medevacs would be established.
The relieved American battalion would stay intact but be redeployed in some nearby peaceful area. The Americans would stay there for several months as a 911 rescue force. If the Iraqi battalion demonstrated it could do the job on its own, the Americans would leave Iraq. "So you have a two-phased redeployment," Garner said. "In the first phase you get the U. S. faces off the street, but they stay in Iraq. In the second phase, they leave Iraq."
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1206/120406cdam2.htm
That is really good news I had not heard before.
If the Iraqi Army feels they are strong, so will the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi government.
I think that is the key.Now if we can just convince the rats in Congress.
Good. Excellent. Far better than I expected. If Gen. Petraeus pulls off a victory in Iraq, he can ride that victory straight to the White House.
Iraqi soldiers in Fallujah are rolling in armored humvees, just like their Marine counterparts.
Iraqi soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division took delivery of 10 new armored humvees, complete with their unique paint scheme and Iraqi flags painted on the sides. It was a significant step forward in increasing the capabilities and confidence of Iraqi soldiers to carry out their own independent operations.
Until now, Iraqis patrolled the streets of Fallujah in Nissan pick-up trucks, and were easy pray for insurgents.
You have that right.
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