07 September 2006
"Seeds Are Being Sown for Long-Term Success" in Iraq, U.S. Officer Says
Op-ed column by U.S. Major General William Caldwell IV
This byliner by Major General William Caldwell IV, who is the senior spokesman for the Multi-National Force - Iraq, was published on the Multi-National Force Web site September 7. There are no republication restrictions.
(begin byliner)
General: 'The seeds are being sown for long-term success' throughout Iraq
By Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV
Senior Spokesman, Multi-National Force – Iraq
In July, the news editor's old axiom "If it bleeds it leads" was tragically justified by record-setting violence in the streets of Baghdad. The increase in daily attacks and civilian deaths led CENTCOM Commander Gen. John Abizaid to tell Congress, "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I have seen it." The recent Pentagon quarterly report on security and stability in Iraq reported increasing attacks and civilian casualties from the three months prior.
However, the violence Baghdad endured in July receded during the month of August. Attacks in Baghdad were well below the monthly average for July. Since Aug. 7, the murder rate in Baghdad dropped 52 percent from the daily rate for July.
What explains this discrepancy from month-to-month? Since Aug. 7, Iraqi security forces, with Coalition forces assisting, have been fully implementing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Baghdad security initiative, the same plan that some had already written off in July as a failure, although it was only in its initial stages.
Baghdad -- with almost 7 million inhabitants -- draws global attention as a target for sensationalized attacks. It is the focus for the terrorists, illegal armed groups and violent extremists who wish to trample on Iraq's new democracy and impede progress of the elected government.
Therefore, the Baghdad security initiative, also known as Amaliya Ma'an Ila al-Amam (or Operation Together Forward), began focused operations in some of the capital's most violent neighborhoods. Operations have cordoned off specific districts, increased checkpoints and patrols, searched and cleared buildings to deny safe haven to terrorists and death squads, and targeted leaders of the death squads. Through Sept. 2, Iraqi and Coalition forces cleared more than 45,868 buildings, discovered 26 weapons caches, seized more than 1,066 weapons and detained 75 persons in connection with terrorism or sectarian violence.
In coming weeks, newly re-certified Iraqi Police units will be deployed as follow-on forces to stabilize secured districts, and operations will expand into contiguous zones. These and other new tactics drive toward the goal of achieving security, neighborhood by neighborhood, throughout Baghdad.
Although August's reduction in violence throughout Baghdad is impressive, it does not mean an end to terrorist attacks or sectarian killings is near. The insurgents and terrorists in Iraq have proven to be an adaptive enemy who "punches back" in an attempt to offset the success of the Iraqi government and its security forces.
In particular, attacks in areas where we have made gains are common and meant to discredit the government of Iraq. Insurgents and terrorists also generate dramatic attacks in other areas to divert media attention from the accomplishments of the Baghdad security initiative. It should not be a surprise if we witness brief up ticks in violence in the near future.
Just as we must avoid becoming complacent with August's progress, we should not lose our hope or our determination in the face of future setbacks.
This is why the Baghdad security initiative is geared not only towards immediately reducing violence, but also towards draining the swamp that produces sectarian violence in Iraq. Prime Minister Maliki's plan for securing Baghdad is closely tied to the larger program for national reconciliation, which seeks to foster political understanding between Sunnis and Shiites, including those who control or influence illegal armed groups involved in sectarian conflict.
This reconciliation effort is also showing early promise. In the Rashid district of Baghdad, Sunni and Shiite political leaders, tribal leaders and imams met and signed an agreement forswearing violence. Tribal leaders went a step further by renouncing protection for tribal members who engage in sectarian violence. In nearby Babil province, a reconciliation conference concluded with tribal sheiks signing an oath that pledges them to work hand-in-hand with other leaders from the province.
And on Aug. 26, several hundred tribal leaders from across Iraq met for the first of four planned reconciliation conferences in Baghdad and endorsed the government's national reconciliation initiatives.
Also key to improving the lives of Baghdad's citizens are the economic efforts that support military operations. Iraqi and Coalition forces are working with district and neighborhood advisory councils to employ Iraqis on projects directly related to cleanup and economic development. Because of the increased sense of security in the focus areas, many shops are reopening and neighborhood markets are beginning to attract business once again.
These efforts are having an effect that cannot be measured in graphs and pie charts, but in time will go a long ways to determining whether Iraq will succeed as a stable and secure democracy.
The situation in Baghdad remains less than ideal, but there remains good reason to be optimistic. Violence will continue throughout Iraq, possibly even spiking as insurgents and terrorists punch back against security operations in Baghdad.
But the seeds are being sown for long-term success. The Iraqi government and its security forces need time to see their plans for securing Baghdad and national reconciliation through to fruition.
(end byliner)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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