thedrifter
09-15-08, 08:19 AM
September 16, 2008
Gates, in Iraq, Calls for Reconciliation
By THOM SHANKER
BAGHDAD — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed here Monday declaring that the mission in Iraq had now transformed into one of expanding upon recent security gains, even as the number of American troops decreased.
In an unannounced trip to Iraq, his eighth as defense secretary, Mr. Gates cautioned that significant risks remained. He said Iraqi, American and allied forces must sustain combat pressure on Sunni terrorists and Shia insurgents. And he called on the central government in Baghdad to move forward with provincial elections and other steps to achieve political reconciliation.
“There are still people who would like to see this fail,” Mr. Gates said enroute to Iraq.
Mr. Gates said that pro-government forces must “insure that Al Qaeda isn’t given the opportunity to regather its strength,” and he stressed that equal effort must be given to suppressing Shia special militia groups.
Iraqi army and police forces have taken control of the security mission in 11 Iraqi provinces, and Mr. Gates said more were likely to be handed over to local army and police by the end of the year.
As an increasing number of Iraqi security units take the leading role, Mr. Gates said, American troops would transition to support and “over-watch.”
In describing the challenge of the months ahead, Mr. Gates said the central question is “how do we preserve the gains that have already been achieved, and expand upon them, even as the numbers of U.S. forces are shrinking?”
President Bush announced last week that he had accepted recommendations from his senior civilian and military advisors to order the withdrawal of 8,000 troops by early next year, bringing the American force level down to 14 combat brigades. The overall American military presence in Iraq, which includes those combat forces as well as support and logistics personnel, then would number about 138,000.
Mr. Gates predicted additional reductions, saying the future debate would primarily be about the pacing of the draw-down.
But the long-term solution is not military, the defense secretary said, as “the continuation of political reconciliation is absolutely critical to Iraq’s success.”
During his visit, Mr. Gates is scheduled to meet with senior Iraqi government officials as well as with American military personnel, from the enlisted ranks to junior and field-grade officers “to get the view from the troops’ level of how things are going, and whether their needs are being met.”
He will cap his visit by presiding at a change-of-command ceremony where Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno will receive his fourth star and became the senior American officer in Iraq, as the outgoing commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, takes command of American military forces across the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
Mr. Gates praised General Petraeus for crafting a brilliant strategy — the so-called “surge” that included increasing combat forces by five brigades, protecting the population, enhancing surveillance and reconnaissance systems, and emphasizing special operations missions against insurgent and terrorist leaders.
General Petraeus “has played a historic role” in his “translation of a great strategy into a great success in very difficult circumstances,” Mr. Gates said.
“But it has been the brigade commanders and the company commanders and the soldiers and marines and others, particularly on the ground, who have actually made it work,” he added.
Mr. Gates acknowledged that a primary reason he recommended General Odierno to become the new commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq was because of his role as the corps commander under General Petraeus, a No. 2 position responsible for implementing the new strategy in day-to-day military operations across Iraq.
“He not only knows these brigade commanders and was involved in the implementation of the ‘surge’ strategy under General Petraeus, but he knows the Iraqi officials well, and they know him,” Mr. Gates said.
Ellie
Gates, in Iraq, Calls for Reconciliation
By THOM SHANKER
BAGHDAD — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed here Monday declaring that the mission in Iraq had now transformed into one of expanding upon recent security gains, even as the number of American troops decreased.
In an unannounced trip to Iraq, his eighth as defense secretary, Mr. Gates cautioned that significant risks remained. He said Iraqi, American and allied forces must sustain combat pressure on Sunni terrorists and Shia insurgents. And he called on the central government in Baghdad to move forward with provincial elections and other steps to achieve political reconciliation.
“There are still people who would like to see this fail,” Mr. Gates said enroute to Iraq.
Mr. Gates said that pro-government forces must “insure that Al Qaeda isn’t given the opportunity to regather its strength,” and he stressed that equal effort must be given to suppressing Shia special militia groups.
Iraqi army and police forces have taken control of the security mission in 11 Iraqi provinces, and Mr. Gates said more were likely to be handed over to local army and police by the end of the year.
As an increasing number of Iraqi security units take the leading role, Mr. Gates said, American troops would transition to support and “over-watch.”
In describing the challenge of the months ahead, Mr. Gates said the central question is “how do we preserve the gains that have already been achieved, and expand upon them, even as the numbers of U.S. forces are shrinking?”
President Bush announced last week that he had accepted recommendations from his senior civilian and military advisors to order the withdrawal of 8,000 troops by early next year, bringing the American force level down to 14 combat brigades. The overall American military presence in Iraq, which includes those combat forces as well as support and logistics personnel, then would number about 138,000.
Mr. Gates predicted additional reductions, saying the future debate would primarily be about the pacing of the draw-down.
But the long-term solution is not military, the defense secretary said, as “the continuation of political reconciliation is absolutely critical to Iraq’s success.”
During his visit, Mr. Gates is scheduled to meet with senior Iraqi government officials as well as with American military personnel, from the enlisted ranks to junior and field-grade officers “to get the view from the troops’ level of how things are going, and whether their needs are being met.”
He will cap his visit by presiding at a change-of-command ceremony where Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno will receive his fourth star and became the senior American officer in Iraq, as the outgoing commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, takes command of American military forces across the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
Mr. Gates praised General Petraeus for crafting a brilliant strategy — the so-called “surge” that included increasing combat forces by five brigades, protecting the population, enhancing surveillance and reconnaissance systems, and emphasizing special operations missions against insurgent and terrorist leaders.
General Petraeus “has played a historic role” in his “translation of a great strategy into a great success in very difficult circumstances,” Mr. Gates said.
“But it has been the brigade commanders and the company commanders and the soldiers and marines and others, particularly on the ground, who have actually made it work,” he added.
Mr. Gates acknowledged that a primary reason he recommended General Odierno to become the new commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq was because of his role as the corps commander under General Petraeus, a No. 2 position responsible for implementing the new strategy in day-to-day military operations across Iraq.
“He not only knows these brigade commanders and was involved in the implementation of the ‘surge’ strategy under General Petraeus, but he knows the Iraqi officials well, and they know him,” Mr. Gates said.
Ellie