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No. 2 general in Iraq transfers out of post
By Bradley Brooks - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 15, 2008 7:38:59 EST
BAGHDAD — The No. 2 American commander in Iraq handed off his duties to a new commander Thursday, saying during a ceremony that despite significant security gains made under his watch, much work lies ahead.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, who has been tapped to be the next Army vice chief of staff, was one of the main architects of the “surge” of U.S. troops that brought some calm to Baghdad and other parts of Iraq in the latter half of 2007.
He said Thursday that Iran remains a threat to stability in Iraq. U.S. commanders have accused Iran of supporting of Shiite militia groups in Iraq and of supplying high-tech roadside bombs that target American troops.
“I think there is still training going on with these groups. They might have slowed the flow of weapons,” Odierno said at a news conference following a 45-minute ceremony in the ornate rotunda of the al-Faw palace at Camp Victory just outside Baghdad to hand control to Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III.
“I think Iran wants a weak Iraq. But they need to be good partners, as a neighboring country,” Odierno said. “We’ve got to make sure they’re not here trying to create a weak government of Iraq so Iran can be stronger in the region.”
The top American commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David Petraeus, said Odierno was the right man at the right time to move Iraq from the brink of civil war to the calmer state it is in today.
“The bloodshed had reached horrific levels,” Petraeus said about the beginning of 2006 when Odierno took command. “The Iraqi government was struggling, the people were suffering terribly and the country was on the brink of all-out civil war.”
Petraeus told the 500 soldiers, diplomats and other guests in attendance that it was Odierno’s recommendation for more troops that made the difference.
Odierno said after the ceremony that there may be a need for a pause in the drawdown of U.S. troops, a sentiment also expressed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this week during a visit to Iraq. Commanders on the ground need more time to assess the situation before recommending how many soldiers to send home, Odierno said.
Petraeus praised Odierno’s ability to use not just military might but also savvy political moves to make gains against insurgents.
“He recognized the importance of identifying and separating the ‘irreconcilables’ — hard-core al-Qaida in Iraq — from the reconcilable,” Petraeus said, calling it a keen awareness that “you can not kill your way out of an insurgency.”
Under Odierno’s watch, the so-called “awakening council” movement bloomed, made up of Sunni fighters who re-established security in Anbar province and elsewhere.
Odierno cautioned that the gains made in the latter half of 2007 are fragile, but that 2008 should be a year of focusing on political and economic advancements for the long-term security of Iraq.
“Security is at such a level now, I believe if you can create jobs, if you can develop an economy, if you can get proper leadership, you’re going to see another significant drop in violence,” he said.
Austin, commander of the incoming 18th Airborne Corps based at Fort Bragg, N.C., served as a commander in Afghanistan and previously in Iraq.
He said the transfer to his watch would be “seamless” and that the military would maintain its course of the past year.
By Bradley Brooks - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 15, 2008 7:38:59 EST
BAGHDAD — The No. 2 American commander in Iraq handed off his duties to a new commander Thursday, saying during a ceremony that despite significant security gains made under his watch, much work lies ahead.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, who has been tapped to be the next Army vice chief of staff, was one of the main architects of the “surge” of U.S. troops that brought some calm to Baghdad and other parts of Iraq in the latter half of 2007.
He said Thursday that Iran remains a threat to stability in Iraq. U.S. commanders have accused Iran of supporting of Shiite militia groups in Iraq and of supplying high-tech roadside bombs that target American troops.
“I think there is still training going on with these groups. They might have slowed the flow of weapons,” Odierno said at a news conference following a 45-minute ceremony in the ornate rotunda of the al-Faw palace at Camp Victory just outside Baghdad to hand control to Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III.
“I think Iran wants a weak Iraq. But they need to be good partners, as a neighboring country,” Odierno said. “We’ve got to make sure they’re not here trying to create a weak government of Iraq so Iran can be stronger in the region.”
The top American commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David Petraeus, said Odierno was the right man at the right time to move Iraq from the brink of civil war to the calmer state it is in today.
“The bloodshed had reached horrific levels,” Petraeus said about the beginning of 2006 when Odierno took command. “The Iraqi government was struggling, the people were suffering terribly and the country was on the brink of all-out civil war.”
Petraeus told the 500 soldiers, diplomats and other guests in attendance that it was Odierno’s recommendation for more troops that made the difference.
Odierno said after the ceremony that there may be a need for a pause in the drawdown of U.S. troops, a sentiment also expressed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this week during a visit to Iraq. Commanders on the ground need more time to assess the situation before recommending how many soldiers to send home, Odierno said.
Petraeus praised Odierno’s ability to use not just military might but also savvy political moves to make gains against insurgents.
“He recognized the importance of identifying and separating the ‘irreconcilables’ — hard-core al-Qaida in Iraq — from the reconcilable,” Petraeus said, calling it a keen awareness that “you can not kill your way out of an insurgency.”
Under Odierno’s watch, the so-called “awakening council” movement bloomed, made up of Sunni fighters who re-established security in Anbar province and elsewhere.
Odierno cautioned that the gains made in the latter half of 2007 are fragile, but that 2008 should be a year of focusing on political and economic advancements for the long-term security of Iraq.
“Security is at such a level now, I believe if you can create jobs, if you can develop an economy, if you can get proper leadership, you’re going to see another significant drop in violence,” he said.
Austin, commander of the incoming 18th Airborne Corps based at Fort Bragg, N.C., served as a commander in Afghanistan and previously in Iraq.
He said the transfer to his watch would be “seamless” and that the military would maintain its course of the past year.