Progress toward Independence – Iraqi Security Forces

“The people of Iraq want to bring an end to terror. They want security and stability in their lives. Our constant pressure on insurgents, the continued progress of the Iraqi security forces and the reconstruction projects that are being completed will help them achieve those aims.”
Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Alston
Spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq
July 14, 2005

There are 35 battalion-size operations going on every day in Iraq, and Iraqi security forces solely are running roughly 20 percent of those, Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Alston said today. The Iraqi soldiers' presence in communities gives the citizens confidence and encourages them to give the soldiers information about weapons and insurgents. Several weapons caches are discovered every week, Alston said, and they include items like counterfeit U. S. money, mines, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft guns, dynamite and bombs. "All of this and more are now off the streets of Iraq thanks to the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, their coalition partners and the people of Iraq," Gen. Alston went on to say… Read more at DoD: ‘American Forces Press Service’

**Also today- Iraqi, U.S. Forces Capture Al Qaeda Leaders
Multinational forces in Iraq have captured two high-ranking al Qaeda operatives with ties to wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, military officials announced today. Read more at DoD: ‘American Forces Press Service’

**Also today- Iraqi police thwarted a triple suicide attack
Iraqi police thwarted a triple suicide attack on Baghdad's Green Zone government compound on Thursday, shooting dead two bombers and wounding and capturing a third, a U.S. military spokesman said today. Police said the attack, claimed by al Qaeda's Iraq wing, involved a car bomber followed up by two bombers on foot… Read more at: ‘Reuters UK’

My View on all of This:

Sometime in early 2006, 14 out of 18 provinces could be handed over to Iraqi control, allowing for a reduction in the overall U.S. troops to around 66,000. If I’m correct, at this time we now have around 138,000 troops in Iraq.

Now… I remember when all those articles in the news media came out last Sunday about the secret British Memo titled “Secret- UK Eyes Only.” This memo was about the US and Britain drawing up plans to withdraw the majority of their troops from Iraq by the middle of next year. So many in the media and on the left tried to make this into a… “TOLD YOU SO.” But I say “WRONG AGAIN, as usual.”

This isn’t about-- told you so… It’s about what’s in all the writings above. It’s about what Bush and Blair have been telling everyone since day one of this war. “We shall not stay no longer than we need to.” It’s about the Iraqis standing up so we can stand down. And if things keep going the way they’ve been going we most certainly should be able to lower our troop level and start moving them out of Iraq. That’s what this is all about-- Nothing more… Nothing less......