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 BAGHDAD — The Multi-National Force-Iraq commander spoke during
a security update at the Pentagon briefing room in Arlington, Va., Thursday.
U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus gave a description of the operational
environment, the challenges facing Iraq and status of ongoing operations.
In recent months there has been progress in Iraq despite sensational attacks
by al Qaeda, said Petraeus.
“We have achieved some notable successes in the past two months,” said
Petraeus. “Detaining a number of key network leaders, discovering how various
elements of al Qaeda Iraq operate, taking apart a car bomb network that had
killed 650 citizens of Baghdad, and destroying several significant car bomb
factories.”
Often times the daily accomplishments of what the troops are doing on the
ground gets overshadowed by sensational attacks committed by the enemy, he
said.
Working with their Iraqi counterparts, the focus of MNF-I is to help improve
the security for the people of Iraq in order to give Iraqi leaders time and
space they need to come to grips with tough political issues that must be
resolved, Petraeus said.
A substantial reduction in the rate of sectarian murders each month since
January is a sign the increase in troop presence has begun to produce results,
Petraeus said.
With gradual progress the situation in Iraq is considered exceedingly complex
and very tough. Success may take continued commitment, perseverance and
sacrifice.
“Our achievements have not come without sacrifice,” said Petraeus. “Our
increase in operational tempo, location of our forces in the populations they
are securing and conduct of operations in areas where we previously had no
presence, as well as the enemy's greater use of certain types of explosive
devices, have led to an increase in our losses.”
Military action alone will not be enough for success in Iraq. Political
actions on the part of the Iraqis are needed for long-term solutions to the
problems facing the country, he said.
“This effort may get harder before it gets easier,” Petraeus said. In the
end, success will depend on Iraqi actions.
“We can provide the Iraqis an opportunity, but they will have to exploit it,”
he said.
(U.S. Army story by Sgt. Sky M. Laron, Combined Press Information Center)
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