Spc. Karl Johnson
363rd MPAD
BAGHDAD - Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, commanding general, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, briefed members of the media Friday on the current events of central Iraq and the progress made during his first 90 days in country.
With more than 32,000 Iraqi security personnel and approximately 29,000 Coalition Forces working to ensure security in the MND-B area, Thurman expressed optimism in the abilities of his Iraqi partners.
"We are setting the conditions for stability and security in Baghdad," said Thurman. "This is a decisive period in the campaign as Iraq transitions to self governance."
"We have increased the size of our battlespace to approximately 17,000 square-miles by taking on three additional provinces in addition to Baghdad," Thurman said. "The Iraqi Security Forces" assumption of battlespace and the ability to protect their citizens has made this possible."
Thurman also stressed that, "Iraqi Security Forces are in the lead," adding that 18 of 29 Iraqi army battalions are now in control of their own battlespace.
"The Iraqi army has proven that they are trained and capable of protecting the Iraqi people " and their nation recognizes that," Thurman said. "Likewise, the Iraqi police are also poised to assume their civil law enforcement duties and are doing so."
According to Army officials, the Iraqi people are showing their support for security forces through their use of the national tip hotline.
"More than 3,000 tips have been received," said Thurman, "and more than 2,500 of those tips have led to successful operations."
He also discussed concerns about sectarian violence in the area brought on by the bombing of the golden shrine in Samara.
"While sectarian violence does exist, much of the violence is due to criminal activity that existed prior to the Samara bombing," Thurman said. "Much of the violence in Iraq can be attributed to desperate acts of terrorism designed to derail the formation of the national unity government."
With Iraqi security forces taking on more of their own battlespace and coalition casualties at a monthly wartime low, Thurman was confident in saying, 'the terrorists have failed."
"The terrorists failed to stop the elections; they failed to stop the recent seating of the council of representatives; and they have failed to incite civil war by the attack on the golden shrine in Samara," said Thurman.
He closed by reiterating the commitment of Coalition Forces in the fight for a secure Iraq.
"We know what is at stake, and we will defeat the terrorists," said Thurman. "Our nation can take pride today in the selfless service, the professionalism and the courage of the great men and women that I have the honor and privilege to serve with every day."
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2006 13:07 |
| Story ID: | 5968 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 505 |
| Downloads: | 357 |
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