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Press Briefing, March 12, 2007

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Monday, 12 March 2007

Joint MNF-I and Government of Iraq briefing with MNF-I Spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV and Iraqi Military Spokesman Brig. Gen.Qassim Atta, March 12, 2007.

JOINT MNF-I AND GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ OPERATIONAL UPDATE BRIEFING WITH MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM B. CALDWELL, IV, SPOKESMAN, MULTINATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ; AND BRIGADIER GENERAL QASSIM ATTA, IRAQI MILITARY SPOKESMAN LOCATION: THE COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER, BAGHDAD, IRAQ TIME: 6:00 A.M. EDT DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

(NOTE: General Atta's remarks are provided through an interpreter.)

GEN. ATTA: The Most Merciful, the Most Gracious. Participants in this conference, peace be upon you with God's blessings.

On this day we attend all together to brief the operations of the security services to protect the Arba'in pilgrims in the holy city of Karbala. All of you know the volume of the threats which face the innocent people in Iraq. There is criteria in the Iraqi security services that the enemies, whatever they target the innocent people, children, students, this is a clear evidence of the failure of these terrorist groups.

Additionally, all of you know the volume and the huge number of the pilgrims. This year the initial statistics indicate that the number of the pilgrims amounted to 6 million pilgrims. This number is very big and needs too a big force, despite the limited capabilities and the existence of security threats against the innocent people. The Iraqi prime minister, the general commander of the armed forces ordered to establish operation room in Karbala, in the holy city of Karbala. This room consists of chaired by the minister of National Security, Mr. Shirwan al-Waili, and the governor of Karbala and the commanders of security services there and representatives of the ministries of Defense and Interior and the service ministries

Also, there was direct cooperation between the operation room in Karbala with operation room of Fard al-Qanun in Baghdad. Great efforts were exerted despite the difficulties and the security violations, but the great efforts which were exerted achieved good results (and discipline ?).

The security office discovered inside Karbala and the surroundings large amounts of weapons, ammunitions and explosives which the terrorists planned to use against the innocent people. Great efforts were exerted and good coordination done by the high level of the security forces; also the support by the MNF-I through the aviation assets.

Some of the weapons and the ammo which the forces discovered -- during the press conference of the minister of the National Security, he gave details about these weapons.

The difficulty was very (simple ?) when the pilgrims returned to Baghdad by transportation vehicles. Also, the security services overcame this difficulty, and they used military vehicles to transport these pilgrims. All (endeavors ?) of the government were coordinated to make these rituals a success. Also, we visited the operational sectors in which security violations occurred, especially Mahmudiyah neighborhood in southern Baghdad and Yusufiya district and Dura neighborhood in Baghdad and Karrada.

Yesterday, the rituals ended. Thanks to God. We thank God for the good results, though there were casualties, and we expected these casualties due to the great number of pilgrims. We will show you videotape about our visits to the troops and the pilgrims, and we found that they have high morale for both the soldiers and for the citizens.

Please, can you display the video?

(Pause.)

This is in Mahmudiyah exactly -- in Mahmudiyah district exactly, southern Baghdad. The deputy commander of the operational sector there, Mr. Hussein al-Awadi (ph) -- this is after the conduction of the operation -- 10 minutes after the conduction of the operation, 10 minutes after the pilgrims were fired on. We visited the area and got acquainted directly with the high (morales/morals ?) for our different Iraqi soldiers, both the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police.

Please, can you give the audio for this video? Can you raise up the audio?

(Pause.)

This is the main thoroughfare, which cross al-Jadriya bridge into the highway, which leads to the southern part of Baghdad. He is asking about the way in the thoroughfare. It's okay. The situation here is okay. Just asking another citizen. Now he's asking about the names of the pilgrims and greeted them.

This is one of the children who participated in these rituals marching into the holy city of Karbala. They all have great and high morale.

This is a visit to Kadhimiya neighborhood in Baghdad, some marketplace there. This indicate the cooperation between the citizens and the Iraqi security forces. There is some security violation in this area, and one of the citizens tried to explain this security violation, and General Qassim ask about the security violation. He said, we can shoulder the responsibilities, and we are ready to show the responsibilities here. We are not -- done this due to the politicalization. We do that for the sake of our citizens in Baghdad and Iraq.

Q (In Arabic.)

GEN. ATTA: We notice there is big coordination and satisfaction of the operations conducted by the Iraqi security services in these areas, and we noticed also the good cooperation between the Iraqi citizens and the Iraq security services.

Q (In Arabic.)

GEN. ATTA: In fact, we'd like to brief Fard al-Qanun plan in Baghdad. Past the fourth week of this plan, we will hold a press conference on Wednesday, which -- we will brief during this press conference the achievements in one month, and we will compare these results with the previous month, with February. We'd like to assert that the plan will not exclude anyone, any outlawed targets, all outlawed without exemptions, and it includes all Baghdad sectors without exemptions.

One of the achievements of this plan is the restore of normal life and business to the marketplaces, and reopening of the hospitals. The general statistics of the sectarian killing were highly reduced, and we noticed the return of -- (inaudible) -- families to homes. Also, there is a remarkable progress in the enforcing of rule in the Iraqi cities. Also, we noticed that there is a flow of citizen to hospitals.

The first and initial phases of Baghdad Fard al-Qanun plan achieved these good results. We will have other phases of this plan. These phases will not -- will include challenges, terrorist attacks, and by cooperation and coordination and patience we will succeed to achieve our goal in this plan.

I now let the ground to my friend, General Caldwell, to talk -- to speak about some progress, and I would like to thank him for this -- for attending this press conference.

GEN. CALDWELL: First of all, General Qassim, thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of this today with you. Thank you. I appreciate that.

Good afternoon. As-salaam aleikum. As General Petraeus noted in his press conference on Thursday, the effort to improve security in Iraq will take time and determination. The effects of Operation Fard al-Qanun will not be seen in days or weeks, but rather in months.

One reason that we must be patient is that it will take several months until we deploy all of the additional coalition forces required to fully implement Operation Fard al-Qanun. Two of the five additional United States brigades have arrived and are currently operating inside of Baghdad. The third one is beginning to arrive in Kuwait at this time, but the build-up will continue through the spring time, and it will be late May before all the forces are here in the Baghdad area.

In addition to the 21,000 new coalition combat troops that are deploying in support of Operation Fard al-Qanun, there will be an additional 5,000 to 7,000 more support troops that will accompany them. These will be units such as logistical support, military police and aviation assets so that we can increase the mobility of both the Iraqi security forces and the coalition forces.

Also, this week the president of Georgia announced that his country is going to triple the number of troops that they are going to provide to help stabilize the situation here in Iraq. The nation of Georgia currently has 850 troops as part of the Multinational Force Iraq. They are going to raise that contribution to just over 2,000.

As General Petraeus noted, there is no exclusive military solution to Iraq's problems. Ultimately, Iraqis must develop political solutions for Iraqis' problems. However, the military solution can affect the environment in which these political negotiations are conducted. The contribution by the nation of Georgia demonstrates that the nations comprising the Multinational Force Iraq remain committed to this mission of supporting Iraq's efforts to create the stability necessary to allow for both the economic and the political progress to take place.

Although there have been early signs of progress in reducing the sectarian violence in Baghdad, al Qaeda in Iraq continues to conduct barbaric attacks in an attempt to create instability and sow division amongst the Iraqi people; whereas the Iraqi security forces and the multinational force have to protect all Iraqis everywhere, the terrorists can be selective in the targets that they strike.

The recent attack on the Habbaniya mosque demonstrates that al Qaeda does not represent any sectarian group but rather is fully prepared to murder scores of Sunni Arabs in an attempt to prevent Iraqis from determining their own future.

Thus far the Iraqi people have shown remarkable restraint in the face of violent provocation. The Iraqi people's resiliency has enabled the Iraqi security forces and the coalition forces to enjoy some success in capturing and killing these terrorists.

In February, Iraqi and coalition forces conducted just over 200 operations against al Qaeda objectives, resulting -- having killed over 100 terrorists and capturing over 400 terrorists.

More importantly, Iraqis are standing up to al Qaeda by increasing the number of tips provided to Iraqi security forces, by increased recruitment for the Iraqi police and army in the Al Anbar province, and through direct action against the terrorists by the Al Anbar tribes. This progress demonstrates that Iraqis want to develop the solutions to Iraq's problems without outside interference.

The way ahead in Iraq will be challenging, but the mission of improving security is doable. Thank you.

GEN. ATTA: "Shukran jazilan."

The time dedicated to this press conference -- we will hear some questions. Each press man can ask the question he would -- the limited time, so that we can cover all the important aspects in this issue with my friend General Caldwell. Each press man who has a question should present his outlet, and the questions should tackle the topics which we mentioned above.

(Cross talk.)

Q (Through interpreter.) From Sumariyah TV. My question to -- first question to General Caldwell. What is the necessity that -- which pushed President Bush to sign a decision to send additional 4,400 troops to Iraq? After the storming of the Badoosh prison, does the storming of the Badoosh prison make you mistrust the Iraqi forces to protect the detention center?

GEN. CALDWELL: The decision to send the additional forces here was to support the prime minister's plan, Fard al-Qanun. As they -- as the prime minister put his plan together, it became apparent that -- is it --

STAFF: (Off mike.)

GEN. CALDWELL: No?

STAFF: (Off mike.)

GEN. CALDWELL: Is there another one -- (off mike).

(Technical problems.)

STAFF: (Off mike.)

GEN. CALDWELL: Okay. All right. It -- is the -- as they -- as the prime minister and his security leaders were developing the plan, Fard al-Qanun, it became apparent that there was a requirement for some additional forces to be a part of that.

Thus far, as we know, nine additional Iraqi security force battalions out of the Iraqi army have moved into Baghdad.

And the United States made the commitment to also provide five additional combat brigades to support that plan. So far, two of those brigades have arrived and are operating inside of Baghdad. The third one is starting to arrive in Kuwait and will make its way up here, and other two are preparing to deploy in the United States. And by the end of May, all five will be here.

But they are coming in order to support the prime minister's plan to bring greater security to the Baghdad area. The additional support troops that we have on top of that 21,000 additional U.S. forces are coming to support the five brigades, and they're mostly logistics folks. We are bringing some additional military police -- 2,200 additional military police -- which will help with what we anticipate will be more people, perhaps, being detained as there's this intense operation that goes on inside of Baghdad in the belts -- the areas just around outside of Baghdad too.

So that's why the additional forces are coming. That decision was made, obviously, was requested back in December, and the president of our United States approved to sending these additional forces in early January.

Q (Through interpreter.) One hundred thousand; now the number increase. Among this number is the military police. One of the U.S. commander said that the Iraqi police need intense efforts of training and coordination to protect the detention centers.

GEN. CALDWELL: That's correct. The additional 5,000 to 7,000 troops that are coming include 2,200 military police, which will help with both the detention facilities and also with serving as assistance and advisors to the Iraqi police forces. We're going to put more transition teams -- these are groups of American troops -- down with the police units, and they'll live there and remain with them on a continuous basis, when they're out conducting operations and even when they're back in their base camps.

So that's the 2,200 additional police, and then we have about another 22,400 that are logistics, maintenance, food service, medical -- all the kind of support structure that you would need to support the five additional U.S. combat brigades. And then there is a request in also for additional aviation assets -- helicopters. Even though the Iraqi air force recently received more helicopters themselves, some new helicopters, these are also additional helicopters, both attack helicopters and logistic support helicopters. Q (Through interpreter.) (Name inaudible) -- from Al Hurra TV. There are news about the -- importing of the modernized devices to explode the IED and the VBIEDs. What do you comment on that?

GEN. ATTA: In fact, the security services did a great job to eliminate the terrorist attacks.

We discussed this in details with -- during the emergency cell meeting. And the Interior minister indicated that the EOD -- the Interior Ministry EOD -- that there are signs that there are contracts now with the concerned companies. Also for the Defense Ministry engineering -- military engineering, they also imported these devices, and we -- some of the elements in the Ministry of Defense received the training courses about these devices, which will help out in finding the IEDs, the VBIEDs and the explosive vests.

Thank you very much.

Q (Through interpreter.) Mohammed Jabarah from Baghdadi TV. The question to General Qassim and General Caldwell, within Fard al- Qanun plan, the Iraqi and the MNF-I forces detained many wanted people. What is the destiny of these wanted people, and when they will bring (sic) to the justice?

GEN. ATTA: Thank you very much.

I'd like to explain something here, very important subject here. The people, the forces detained, the number of the people detained is very big, and I have statistics about the number of the detainees from February -- from March 1 -- 140 wanted terrorists detained and 70 -- 20 suspects detained.

There are committees, legal committees. Rusafa and Karkh sectors have been provided by some investigators. The man who done a crime, we will deal with him within the judicial system. There will be initial investigation, and the innocent will -- and the judicial system will find the person not guilty -- will be released. We release some people who are not convicted. All other detainees are now under investigation.

If General Caldwell has any explanation about that, he can give what he wants.

GEN. CALDWELL: Sir, I think you answered it very well.

GEN. ATTA: (In English.) Thank you very much.

Q (Through interpreter.) The question is for General Qassim. From the Iraqi News Agency, INA, from the Iraqi National News Agency. Is the U.S. support -- the logistic -- is the U.S. logistic support through their military vehicles comply with the ambitions of the Iraqi army? What is the rate and the ceiling, the time ceiling, to develop the vehicles of the Iraqi army and the --

GEN. ATTA: Thank you very much.

In fact, when we talk, we talk about the reality on the fields. Anyone who compares the situation of the Iraqi forces nowadays with the Iraqi forces six months ago, he notice big difference. The number of the Iraqi forces is now bigger, the -- including the -- is good as for ambition, but we hope to increase this equipping for the Iraqi army and to get more modernized vehicles and weapons. And there is support from the MNF-I to the Iraqi forces in this connection through the training, equipping and arming. It is good so far, but we hope more cooperation and more coordination and more logistic support.

Q (Off mike.)

GEN. CALDWELL: Yes. Those are the numbers that -- during the month of February, there were just over 200 objectives that were assaulted that were directly linked to al Qaeda, and --

Q (Off mike.)

GEN. CALDWELL: Right, over 100 killed. And of the 400 people taken off the objective, they will go through a screening process. And then they -- will be determined whether or not they in fact were associated with the terrorists that were on that objective, or whether they were perhaps just innocent bystanders that were in the area. Okay.

GEN. ATTA: Any question? Please, this is the last question. Do you want to ask more questions?

Q (Through interpreter.) (Name and affiliation inaudible.)

Brigadier General Qassim, we noticed that in cooperation between the Iraqi security services -- especially in the outside Baghdad, like Saba al-Bor area -- big number of displaced families didn't return to homes. How do you deal with this subject?

GEN. ATTA: As you all know, the volume of the threat is big. The terror occurs in some areas. There is estimation of the military operation through the operation room. The forces in the areas, especially in the areas which still suffer the existence of the terrorists and the terror groups, the number of the forces increase day by day. There are details about the number of the Iraqi forces, which other units will be supporting. In next days, we will deploy enough number of forces in all areas, especially in the area you mentioned.

We'd like to assure the citizens that we have big number of forces, and the Fard al-Qanun plan will increase and will make progress day after day. But it will take time and determination and patience and cooperation and coordination. And the initial steps achieved progress, important progress.

Thank you very much. The last question?

Q (Through interpreter.) (Name and affiliation inaudible.) My question to General William Caldwell -- there is pre- announcement about the Fard al-Qanun plan which enabled some terrorists to flee away from Iraq. How do you deal with this subject?

GEN. CALDWELL: What I would tell you is that the Fard al-Qanun plan deals specifically with the Baghdad area and the area surrounding it. But clearly, in consultation with the Iraqi security forces, although the focus is right now on the Baghdad area, there are continuing operations that are going on throughout the country, obviously. And the areas that we anticipated, talking with our counterparts -- that we thought that some of these insurgent groups, these extremists, would flee to would be up near the Diyala province, where -- we have seen a slight increase in the number of incidents up there, and that the other place that we thought they might move towards is out in the Al Anbar province.

Up in Diyala we have seen a slight increase in the number of incidents, and therefore there have -- there has been and there is going to continue to be some repositioning of coalition forces into that area. And again, we don't want to talk about specifics, obviously, before it occurs, but there is a recognition that there will be a need for some additional forces up there.

So the whole point of Fard al-Qanun is, we are setting the conditions to allow for the security to be reestablished, which would then allow the economic progress to take hold back in the city.

There is tremendous potential for economic growth inside of Baghdad. We've seen it already in the Rusafa market. General Petraeus was down there two days ago, walking all through the market, as we've seen General Qassim himself down in the Baghdad area. There is lots of areas that have all of a sudden started coming back, and we're seeing some very positive initial indicators of economic progress taking place again inside of Baghdad that we have not seen over the last year. And so these are very positive things. And as that continues, and the people become more confident that their security forces, both the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police, can provide the necessary security, we would hope to see even more economic growth take place.

And so again, the initial signs are already very promising, the initial indicators. So the plan is accomplishing what it wanted to inside of the Baghdad city area. And then outside of the Baghdad city area, we're going to deal with the belts. And as these additional coalition force brigades come in from the United States, these three more brigades of troops from the United States, they're going to be used as General Abboud directs, where he wants additional forces to go. But he's talking about putting some of them in the belts around side (sic) of the Baghdad city area, to deal with where we think some of these car bomb factories are -- we have found two or three already and have destroyed in the last few weeks. But we anticipate that that's probably where there are some more, and that's where some more of the greater presence of these forces will go to.

Do you --

GEN. ATTA: (In English.) Thank you.

I'd like with -- our media corps of Fard al-Qanun plan to accompany the media for a field visit to the areas which show stability. God willing, next week and this week we will hold and organize tours in Karkh district in Baghdad, and we will visit some hot areas also to get acquainted with the situation.

You mentioned in Saba al-Bor, for example, not in Baghdad, we hope the -- all outlets to cooperate with us to demonstrate the facts. We don't like to (furnish ?) and to distort facts or to -- just to convey the facts to the citizens because the citizens need to get acquainted with the facts as they are.

The other topic to deal with the official sources to convey the facts. For example, last week, we captured very important and senior al Qaeda members. The media broadcast and other broadcasts a story that -- a source talking on condition of unanimity. We have official source; we have hotlines in the operations rooms. Also, we have the MNF-I, which is ready to hear whatever you want. We don't -- we only want to cover the facts as they are and to convey the facts to the citizens. We will organize tours to all Baghdad sectors so that you can acquaint -- you can ask questions to the ordinary citizens without any interference of the security services.

We will be among the security services, and we will handle any negative aspects. We will answer this negative aspect accurately, without any hesitation, to go to any place you want. God willing, we will be in direct contact within the hotlines or the e-mail.

Thank you very much, and thanks for General Caldwell, and thanks for the technicians who set up this device, although I did not hear the audio of the translation. Thank you very much, and I wish we're going to meet in other press conference.

(In English.) Thank you very much.

GEN. CALDWELL: Thank you very much.

END.