Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Post
June 1, 2008
Iraqi security forces notched two huge gains in the last month, as violence in the country declined to a level not seen in more than four years.
In Baghdad, Iraqi troops moved nearly unopposed to take control of Sadr City, the redoubt of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army - and the scene of heavy street fighting when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stepped up his campaign against the militia in March.
Meanwhile, Iraqi and American forces in the northern city of Mosul encountered surprisingly little resistance in their push to drive Al Qaeda in Iraq from its last remaining base of operations.
All in all, according to Coalition spokesman Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, total insurgent attacks countrywide the week before last numbered just 300 - making it Iraq's most peaceful since March 2004.
The difference being that now Iraqis themselves are shouldering much of the security load.
Still, warned Driscoll, now's no time to "pop the champagne bottle" - even against Al Qaeda, which has gone from defeat to defeat ever since the once-maligned US troop surge began more than a year ago.
Though Sadr's decision to have his militia stand down is most likely a serious admission of weakness (he remains holed up in Iran), reports indicate that his "Mahdi Army" has managed to hang on to most of its weapons.
And Iran - which has no interest in a secure, independent and American-allied Iraq on its western border - doubtless still has cards to play, too.
Long story short: Iraq still has a long road ahead of it - and everything could still fall to pieces if America loses its nerve.
But for Coalition forces - and, increasingly, their Iraqi allies - the rewards of perseverance have been manifest.
And that's grounds for serious hope.
June 1, 2008
Iraqi security forces notched two huge gains in the last month, as violence in the country declined to a level not seen in more than four years.
In Baghdad, Iraqi troops moved nearly unopposed to take control of Sadr City, the redoubt of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army - and the scene of heavy street fighting when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stepped up his campaign against the militia in March.
Meanwhile, Iraqi and American forces in the northern city of Mosul encountered surprisingly little resistance in their push to drive Al Qaeda in Iraq from its last remaining base of operations.
All in all, according to Coalition spokesman Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, total insurgent attacks countrywide the week before last numbered just 300 - making it Iraq's most peaceful since March 2004.
The difference being that now Iraqis themselves are shouldering much of the security load.
Still, warned Driscoll, now's no time to "pop the champagne bottle" - even against Al Qaeda, which has gone from defeat to defeat ever since the once-maligned US troop surge began more than a year ago.
Though Sadr's decision to have his militia stand down is most likely a serious admission of weakness (he remains holed up in Iran), reports indicate that his "Mahdi Army" has managed to hang on to most of its weapons.
And Iran - which has no interest in a secure, independent and American-allied Iraq on its western border - doubtless still has cards to play, too.
Long story short: Iraq still has a long road ahead of it - and everything could still fall to pieces if America loses its nerve.
But for Coalition forces - and, increasingly, their Iraqi allies - the rewards of perseverance have been manifest.
And that's grounds for serious hope.