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WASHINGTON D.C. (March 4, 2008) - The former commander of
Multinational Corps Iraq reflected today on vast improvements made
during the past 15 months and said Iraq is approaching the point
where no single incident or chain of events will be able to reverse
those positive trends.
Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, who returned from Iraq about
two weeks ago, credited the troop surge in Iraq, as well as changes
in troops' tactics, techniques and procedures, with helping set
conditions to reduce violence. This, he said, opened the door for
other broad improvements.
"We were focused for 15 months in Iraq on improving the security
situation, which allowed a window of opportunity for economic
development, improved governance and enhancement of the Iraqi
security forces," he said. "The improved security conditions, in
part from the surge of 2007, have given the Iraqis an opportunity
to choose a better way."
To ensure security gains made aren't able to reverse, Odierno
said, the emphasis must shift to other critical to ongoing success,
including jobs and economic opportunity, national and local
governance, and continued improvement among Iraqi security
forces.
Odierno said he's encouraged by advances on all three fronts,
particularly as the Iraqis push legislation and other efforts to
promote reconciliation.
"I think once people are convinced that we're moving forward
with reconciliation, Sunni and Shiia will be able to come together
and work toward Iraq's goals in the future," he said. "I think
that's when we really start to see what I believe to be
irreversible (progress)."
Odierno said he's concerned by destabilizing Iranian influences
at play in Iraq and believes it's important to keep pressure on
Iran to ensure it doesn't hamper progress being made.
"They have a huge role to play in Iraq as helpful partners in
the Middle East and to the Iraqi government," he said. "What they
have to stop doing is training surrogates, funding surrogates and
supplying weapons to them, which they are still doing today."
As the Iraqi government confronts destabilizing external
influences as well as internal struggles for power and resources,
Odierno said, he's confident progress made in the last 15 months
will continue.
He expressed confidence in Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, of
the 18th Airborne Corps, to whom Odierno transferred command of
Multinational Corps Iraq in mid-February.
"The corps is poised to continue helping the government of Iraq
in moving forward on all the critical issues facing the country,"
he said. "General Austin is keenly aware that much work remains
ahead and is sharply focused on the numerous tasks at hand."
The mission remains challenging, he conceded. "Iraq is a complex
country; There is no blanket solution for the country," he
said.
Ultimately, he added, success in Iraq will be up to the Iraqi
people themselves.
"The future of Iraq belongs to the Iraqis, and we must support
them in moving toward that future," he said.
Odierno emphasized that gains made in Iraq have come with big
sacrifices in injuries and lives lost.
"Their sacrifices were (not) and will not be in vain," he said.
"And because of them, Iraqis have the right to choose their own
destiny. Let us forever remember our noble and gallant warriors who
gave everything so others can enjoy life and liberties of a truly
free people."
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