CF, IA commanders discuss ISF success in Diyala

Photo By Spc. Kirby Rider | Lt. Col. Marshall Dougherty, commander of 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., and Gen. Rasheed Abed al-Kareem Abed al-Qader, executive officer of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, talk during a press conference with Iraqi and American media outlets about the recent success of Iraqi security forces in Diyala province at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, Jan. 29.  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

01.31.2008

Story by Spc. Kirby Rider 

4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

BAQUBAH, Iraq – A joint press conference with a coalition and Iraqi army officer was held Jan. 29 at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, to discuss the success of Iraqi security forces in Diyala province.

Lt. Col. Marshall Dougherty, commander of 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., and Gen. Rasheed Abed al-Kareem Abed al-Qader, executive officer of the 5th Iraqi army division, started with comments on the reopening of a key road linking Baqubah with Baghdad.

The road had been closed for 16 months due to be it being heavily planted with bombs by al-Qaida in Iraq.

"The highway is now open for travel," Dougherty said. "After the operation was over, Iraqi and U.S. engineers worked to repair the highway that was damaged by roadside bombs."

"We cleared 30 of the IEDs that were emplaced on the roads with help from our friends the Americans," Rasheed said. "The Iraqi army helped remove 40 IEDs in the town of Muradiyah."

Dougherty then expressed how impressed he was with the IA during Operation Blackhawk Harvest, where coalition forces let IA take the lead, providing only security on the flanks of the town, artillery and close air support when it was needed.

"The IA commanders led the troops, our Military Transition Teams were the only (coalition force) troops with them." Dougherty said. "The MiT Teams provided the communication link to the close air support and the helicopters that over-watched the operation."

Dougherty also mentioned that ISF is now planning their own operations to take back enemy strongholds.

"We have been conducting more and more joint operations with the Iraqi army and police," Dougherty said. "For about the past month and a half, the Iraqi army has taken the lead in planning and conducting those operations.

"The success of the operation was a result of the planning with Iraqi hands and brains," Rasheed added.

"Al-Qaida is defeated in Diyala province, the security is increasing day-by-day."

Rasheed noted that 48 AQI were killed in the operation and another eight captured.

The leaders also discussed the Concerned Local Citizen (CLC) program, and Dougherty said the number of CLCs has increased despite attacks against their checkpoints.

"When the people see (CLCs) successfully stand up to al-Qaida, it is empowering to the locals. More volunteers in more areas have been standing up and coming to the table," Dougherty said. "Al-Qaida has been attacking our CLC groups and that is an indication of how much they do not want that (program) to be a success."

Rasheed talked about his troops' ability to defeat insurgents alone should coalition force troops pull out of Iraq.

"The Iraqi army forces are still being formed; it will be completed in the upcoming months," Rasheed said. "In my estimation by the end of this year we should be ready, if we continue to be re-enforced" with the weapons we need.

• Date Taken: 01.31.2008
• Date Posted: 02.07.2008 00:35
• Story ID: 16118
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ