Friday, June 29, 2007
U.S. General - political conflict will undermine Iraqi security
Security, Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Political conflict between the Iraqi government's leaders will have a negative effect on the security situation in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, a U.S. general said on Thursday. "Some Iraqi political forces have political agendas and are carrying out armed operations using their militias under a political cover, which adds to the complexity of the security situation," Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, the spokesperson for the U.S. Army Central Command, said in a press conference held on Thursday in the Green Zone.
Other external political disputes are also affecting the deteriorating situation in Iraq, he indicated. Brooks said that "terrorist operations" targeting the Multi-National Forces (MNF) in Iraq have recently been on the rise compared to attacks against Iraqi security forces, which he said aim to undermine U.S. policy in Iraq and rally international public opinion behind troop withdrawal plans.
"The law-imposing plan is continuing. Iraqi and U.S. forces have managed to purge 35% of Baghdad neighborhoods of terrorist groups," Brig. Gen. Brooks said. U.S. and Iraqi forces have imposed a security crackdown on the Iraqi capital since mid-February 2007 as part of a plan to put an end to violence and curb militia groups.
According to Brooks, joint U.S.-Iraqi forces are currently controlling 40% of Baghdad's areas, including al-Ghazaliya neighborhood, al-Khadraa district in Karkh and al-Shab neighborhood in Baghdad's eastern side of Rasafa. Brooks did not provide a timetable for obtaining full control of Baghdad.
"The law-imposing security plan in Baghdad has seen dazzling success that citizens have not noticed because of the violent operations that target them," Brooks explained, adding that U.S. forces will continue erecting concrete barriers around some of Baghdad's neighborhoods and markets to block car bombs from reaching their targets.
Other external political disputes are also affecting the deteriorating situation in Iraq, he indicated. Brooks said that "terrorist operations" targeting the Multi-National Forces (MNF) in Iraq have recently been on the rise compared to attacks against Iraqi security forces, which he said aim to undermine U.S. policy in Iraq and rally international public opinion behind troop withdrawal plans.
"The law-imposing plan is continuing. Iraqi and U.S. forces have managed to purge 35% of Baghdad neighborhoods of terrorist groups," Brig. Gen. Brooks said. U.S. and Iraqi forces have imposed a security crackdown on the Iraqi capital since mid-February 2007 as part of a plan to put an end to violence and curb militia groups.
According to Brooks, joint U.S.-Iraqi forces are currently controlling 40% of Baghdad's areas, including al-Ghazaliya neighborhood, al-Khadraa district in Karkh and al-Shab neighborhood in Baghdad's eastern side of Rasafa. Brooks did not provide a timetable for obtaining full control of Baghdad.
"The law-imposing security plan in Baghdad has seen dazzling success that citizens have not noticed because of the violent operations that target them," Brooks explained, adding that U.S. forces will continue erecting concrete barriers around some of Baghdad's neighborhoods and markets to block car bombs from reaching their targets.
Labels: Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, politics, security
