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WASHINGTON D.C. (January 30, 2008) - Operation Phantom Phoenix
is succeeding in cracking down on Iraq's enemies, largely because
of the Iraqi security forces' professionalism and the cooperation
of the Iraqi people, a senior U.S. military officer said in Baghdad
today.
Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, spokesman for Multinational Force
Iraq, told reporters the joint offensive launched earlier this
month continues to make headway in corralling remaining
al-Qaeda-aligned terrorists and other insurgents in the
country.
"One of the reasons progress has been made and continues to be
made in Iraq is the increasing courage of the Iraqi people as they
reject violence from their neighborhoods, work more closely with
security forces and place themselves in harm's way to help secure
their communities," Bergner said.
That's led to big improvements, he said, with Iraqi security
forces and coalition troops now clearing more than half of all
improvised explosive devices across Iraq, and more than 60 percent
in some areas. "This progress is due to improving technology,
better training by Iraqi security forces and, most of all, because
of the help of brave Iraqi citizens who are working with our forces
and the Iraqi security forces," he said.
Bergner emphasized the importance of Iraqi cooperation. "Iraqi
citizens are not just reporting IEDs, but also phoning in tips,
walking into local joint security stations to provide actionable
intelligence and working with their security forces in ways not
seen a year ago," he said. "They are directly enabling progress
that we are seeing in Operation Phantom Phoenix."
On Jan. 28, for example, coalition forces operating east of
Tikrit used such a tip to capture an al Qaeda operative involved in
arming terrorists, moving foreign fighters and acting as an
interrogator during terrorist kidnappings, Bergner said. Yesterday,
they caught an insurgent in Baqouba who was associated with a
suicide bomb network in Diyala province.
"The collective weight of these operations and many others like
them disrupt the terrorist networks and improve security
conditions," he said.
That's leading to other progress, including the reopening of
roads once plagued by bombs and terror attacks, he said.
Bergner noted that a key roadway linking northern and southern
Baqouba reopened Jan. 28, thanks to joint Iraqi security force and
coalition force efforts. "A once-violent thoroughfare returned to
the use of the people that need it," he said. "Farmers can again
move their produce, children can reach their schools and families
can travel."
Throughout these operations, Iraqi security forces are
increasingly forming the first line of defense, Bergner said,
noting that Iraqi forces are now better equipped and prepared to
provide security.
Army Maj. Gen. Mohammad al-Askari, spokesman for Iraq's Ministry
of Defense, noted the sea change that's occurred within Iraq's
military. He said that during 2003 and 2004, Iraqis fought behind
the multinational forces. In 2006, they worked side by side with
the coalition. "Now," he said, "we are fighting in front of them,
and we are taking the leadership in conducting operations."
As they step up, Iraqi forces also are experiencing higher
casualties - sometimes triple those of coalition troops. Bergner
pointed to recent attacks on Iraqi police chiefs and the fact that
13,000 Iraqis didn't allow this to deter them from joining the
police force during January alone. "Iraqi leaders are pressing the
fight and showing enormous courage, and others are joining their
ranks," he said.
Bergner cited solid forward momentum within Iraq's Ministry of
Defense as it carries out multiple missions simultaneously:
building institutional capabilities and processes, integrating new
equipment and technologies, recruiting and training new soldiers,
and fighting terrorists while expanding security for the Iraqi
people.
"There is still much work under way in all the security
ministries to professionalize the force, increase accountability
and expand technical capabilities," he said. But, "Iraqi army
soldiers are better trained, equipped and prepared to provide
security for the Iraqi people."
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