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US CENTCOM, TF 1 AD staying the course

ARCENT Release

Release Date: 4/11/2004

By Sgt. Merrion Lasonde 122nd MPAD

BAGHDAD, Iraq (April 11, 2004) - U.S. forces will remain in Iraq as long as necessary to bring peace and stability to Iraq according to the commanding generals of the U.S. Central Command and Task Force 1st Armored Division.

Speaking at an impromptu press conference following a mission briefing, Gen. John Abizaid, commander, U.S. Central Command, and Maj. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Task Force 1st Armored Division commanding general, addressed the current situation in Iraq April 8.

Abizaid said that the current unstable situation in Iraq is due to insurgents who do not want to see a free and prosperous Iraq. Members of these bands include small groups of former Hussein loyalists, militiamen, terrorists and religious extremists. Battles between these groups and coalition forces have taken place in Baghdad and southern Iraqi cities of Najaf, Kufah and Nasiriyah.

"I feel it is a small group of people, anti-democratic in their outlook, that are trying to stop the forward movement of the Iraqi people," Abizaid said.

Dempsey said that battles between the insurgents and U.S. forces have been decisive and swift.

"There are militia's seeking to intimidate the local populace," Dempsey said. "When confronted, our attackers have been defeated. We have said that there will be no militias allowed. When we have encountered fights, they have been rapid, violent and very successful on our part."

Task Force 1st Armored Division Soldiers are battle hardened, know their communities and have relationships with local leaders and residents, Abizaid said.

"We have some of the most experienced and battle-ready troops currently on the ground. If the troops' stay here has to be extended to get the job done, so be it," he said. "This is a slow campaign. We are trying hard not to harm innocent civilians. We will use U.S. and coalition troops as needed to get the job done."

There are about 25,000 Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division being joined in and around Baghdad by about 15,000 arriving 1st Cavalry Division troops, a total of 40,000 American troops are now in the Iraqi capital. Roughly 11,000 more than before the troop rotation began in January.

Currently there are about 134,000 military personnel in Iraq, up from 120,000 in November.

We have plenty of military capacity to deal with the problem," Abizaid said. "We have a sufficient force on the ground to deal with the problem."

In addition to U.S. and other Coalition forces, Iraqi defense forces - the new Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and Iraqi Police Service - are fighting for their country, he said.

"We have gotten these organizations effective to a point and we will continue to work with them," Dempsey said.

"We need to empower the Iraqi leaders so that they can take control of their country," Abizaid added.