March 19, 2008
Gen. Petraeus' View Of Battleground Iraq
Top U.S. Commander Tells Cami McCormick Why Progress Isn't Yet Cause For Celebration
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Gen. David Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq, speaks to soldiers during an opening ceremony for a USO facility at the U.S. airbase in Balad, Iraq, in this Feb. 7, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)
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Pop Question
"I think everybody recognizes that there has been progress in the security arena over the course of the last six to eight months," but no one, Gen. David Petraeus said, is celebrating.
"The progress in Iraq is fragile, it is tenuous. There's an enormous amount of hard work to be done to solidify the gains, to build on them, while there is a draw-down of over one quarter of our combat forces."
Five of 20 Brigade Combat Teams - a Marine Expeditionary Unit and two Marine battalions - are scheduled to leave by July. Already, two Army brigades have departed Iraq, one based in Diyala province, the other in Baghdad.
The withdrawals are a test.
"They always leave some gap... that has to be filled. Obviously, we have to thin out in certain areas to accommodate that withdrawal," Petraeus said, referring to the recent departure of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. At the same time, "al Qaeda remains a very lethal enemy... capable of lashing out at any given time."
The battle against al Qaeda in Iraq is focusing primarily on Ninevah province, north of Baghdad, which Petraeus calls "hugely important" because of its location at the cross roads of Turkey, Syria and Iran, and an important trade route to Baghdad. He admits there has been "an economy of force" in the north because of the security operations in the Iraqi capital.
Petraeus has moved additional American and Iraqi conventional and Special Forces to Ninevah. Four Iraqi battalions, sent to Baghdad for the security operations, are now returning to Mosul, Ninevah's capital. Combat outposts, like those established in Baghdad during the surge, are being built.
"Everyone, I think, sees Mosul as a very significant location for al Qaeda." A large city, he says it is a greater challenge than towns like Ramadi in Anbar province, or Baquoba in Diyala province. While admitting it may be an over-statement, he quotes intelligence analysts as saying "al Qaeda can't win without Baghdad, or survive without Mosul".
"This is not the final battle by any means, but it is a very important battle in the overall campaign against al Qaeda in Iraq," Petraeus said. "Mosul is certainly an area where we have to focus more attention, and we have."
On the Sons of Iraq, the former predominantly Sunni insurgents now allied with, and paid by, U.S. forces in the battle against al Qaeda, Petraeus admits there have been some problems. The government in Baghdad is hesitant to admit them into the security forces.Listen To Cami's Interview With Gen. Petraeus
"There are understandable concerns on the part of a government that is majority Shiite that, what they were doing was hiring former Sunni insurgents, giving them a new lease on life, and that when this is all said and done they may turn against the government or the Shiite population."
Al Qaeda has also infiltrated some of these groups. "Absolutely. This is a technique that they are using. We have caught them at that. Our Iraqi partners have caught them at it and obviously we've got an eye out for that all the time. It is a serious threat and a serious concern. And again, it is a reason that some of the members of the government of Iraq have some pause about integrating into Iraqi security forces these Sons of Iraq without sufficient checks and background examinations," he said.
Still, he adds, several thousand of these men have already been placed within the Iraqi security forces or into other employment, and thousands of additional names are before a reconciliation committee in Baghdad to be vetted by intelligence agencies.
As for his upcoming testimony before Congress in April, Petraeus said, "We haven't decided yet what the final recommendation will be. We'll consider the same factors that we've always considered when looking at whether we could withdraw forces, and that includes the level of violence, the state of the enemy in particular areas" and the growth and capability of Iraqi security forces.
"At the end of the day, it probably comes down a little bit to the feel of people who... have been here for some time."
By Cami McCormick
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 39 Comments
I noted that Bu$h is sounding the war drums a little louder when it comes to Iran''s Oil.
Our next president will have a huge mess to clean up...- Reply to this comment
- On the Sons of Iraq, the former predominantly Sunni insurgents now allied with, and paid by, U.S. forces in the battle against al Qaeda, Petraeus admits there have been some problems. The government in Baghdad is hesitant to admit them into the security forces.
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The surge is working.
Paid or bribed - when the money stops the surge stops... - Reply to this comment
- When we look back on this from the furure, we will look back on Bush, Cheney, Romsfelt and Rice as being war crimainals and Petreous as being a flunky and an unaware stuge. Similar to way we view Colin Powell when he lied to me, the nation, the government and the whole world about Iqaq in the first place. They hung Huesain for what he did, the above deserve the same.
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- Look, if you want to do something about this war get your @$$ over here and do something to help us. Otherwise get out of the way while we Git-R-Done.
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- "but no one," Gen. David Petraeus said, "is celebrating."
How dare they quote a decorated and sitting U.S. General saying anything but "Mission Accomplished!" This kind of reporting is treasonous and emboldens the enemy! Godless liberal media makes me sick! - Reply to this comment
- That is why the general was so aptly named General Betray Us. He is a right wing tool that is part of our current fascist country. Time to shut it down.
5th anniversary of the new Day That Will Live in Infamy. Tell a friend. And a conservative.
Posted by noloyalisti at 02:57 PM : Mar 19, 2008
He see himself as the next Eisenhower - others see him as a azz kizzer... - Reply to this comment
- If you can''''t believe the general on the ground in charge then who are you going to believe? The imbecile protestors? I am getting tired of all this troop level talk as well. There is no need to "break" our army with all these multiple tours either. We have plently of soldiers in Europe we could use if we would only get smart and speed up this operation. If 30,000 surge troops made that much difference maybe 60,000 from Europe would do even better digging out this Iraq infection. Multiple tours is the worst part of this whole mess.
Posted by scottyusa at 04:33 PM : Mar 19, 2008
How many are National Guard units ?
The states National Guard Units are all hurting when it comes to equipment. - Reply to this comment
- Petraeus lost 1/4 million weapons, or was it 180,000, I forget the exact figure!? You have to admit---this doesn''t inspire confidence in his ability OR his word!
Some people may choose NOT to believe it---but he was chosen because he was a ''cooperative'' general and is/was willing to ''go along'' with what B/C want!
Who do I choose to believe? The troops & field commanders speak more truth then we''ll ever hear from Petraeus!! When we occasionally hear from them. - Reply to this comment
- Know how to spot an idiot ?
Look for slogans or childish comments, instead of comment based on facts.
Everytime you see something like "Free Iraq, free America", you know you are seeing a far left poster. - Reply to this comment
- If you can''t believe the general on the ground in charge then who are you going to believe? The imbecile protestors? I am getting tired of all this troop level talk as well. There is no need to "break" our army with all these multiple tours either. We have plently of soldiers in Europe we could use if we would only get smart and speed up this operation. If 30,000 surge troops made that much difference maybe 60,000 from Europe would do even better digging out this Iraq infection. Multiple tours is the worst part of this whole mess.
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- As for his upcoming testimony before Congress in April, Petraeus said, "We haven''t decided yet what the final recommendation will be.
Translation: B/C haven''t ordered/told him what he''s to say, yet! We''ll know, when he knows! - Reply to this comment
- That is why the general was so aptly named General Betray Us. He is a right wing tool that is part of our current fascist country. Time to shut it down.
5th anniversary of the new Day That Will Live in Infamy. Tell a friend. And a conservative. - Reply to this comment
- JerSupporter--So, you''re not refuting the news reports on the missing weapons...you''re just attacking me? Fine...."sticks and stones"..."sticks and stones"...but your words?
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- "The progress in Iraq is fragile, it is tenuous. There''s an enormous amount of hard work to be done to solidify the gains, to build on them, while there is a draw-down of over one quarter of our combat forces."
What exactly would those gains be, Sir? Iraqi''s and Americans are still being killed every day. And you still haven''t gotten the Iraqi''s to sign those PSA agreements with the US oil companies. Shame on you!
"The battle against al Qaeda in Iraq is focusing primarily on Ninevah province, north of Baghdad, which Petraeus calls "hugely important" because of its location at the cross roads of Turkey, Syria and Iran, and an important trade route to Baghdad. He admits there has been "an economy of force" in the north because of the security operations in the Iraqi capital."
It isn''t even Al Queda in Iraq, Sir. It is Al Queda mercenaries hired to come in an kill Iraqi''s to put pressure on the government to sign those PSA agreements.
The jig is up! We already know these are not Islamic extremests. They are mercenaries! - Reply to this comment
- PrinzoStupidity - ''At least two-thirds of your miseries spring from stupidity - but my primary concern is I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it. You are clearly ignorant, misinformed, and obviously a waste of time and human flesh. Be gone with the clowns!
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- Here is the BBC report on Betrayus and the ''missing'' weapons:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6932710.stm
Betrayus supplied weapons to the insurgency have killed and wounded many more Americans than anything the Iranians have provided!
Keep up the ''good'' work General! You are the ''John McCain'' of the US Army-- this North Vietnamese ace was responsible for downing five US aircraft! When will you be providing Stingers to the insurgents? - Reply to this comment
- Time to shut down this militaristic society and the brutal and genocidal occupation of Iraq.
Emergency, emergency, everybody to get on streets. Remind everyone this is the 5th anniversary of our cowardly and un-necessary invasion of Iraq. Go to the corners and start talking general strike. - Reply to this comment
- On the Alex Jones Show at infowars.com...the Second Amendment decision of the Supreme Court is being discussed with Larry Pratt of GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA.
The decision of the ''conservative'' court has just gutted the Amendment. This fascist court is as bad as the fascist Congress and fascist Executive.
FREE IRAQ! FREE AMERICA!! - Reply to this comment
- "Yea, we took out that kindergarten class and only lost 6 of our own when that kid came at us with that pencil," Gen. Petraeus
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- Just to sum up...
1)Dumb-as-dirt Demopublicans elect Bush...
2)Lie after lie is told to justify an invasion of Iraq
3)"Mission accomplished"
4)Tons of munitions and weapons left unguared
5)Iraqi army and police fired
6)Civilians terrorized, tortured, murdered and humiliated.
7)Betrayus turns over thousands of weapons to rebels
8)Americans import death squads, death squad leader Negroponte and al Qaeda.
8)"Dirty War" launched against Iraqi people to create more chaos and promote ethnic conflict to justify the continued US imperial presence.
9)The war goes on...prices go up...and the death toll rises...Now, what did we get for our blood and treasure?...The promise from the Demopublicans that we will be able to expend more blood and treasure to promote ''democracy'' in a land where the overwhelming majority of the people want us gone.
You can''t have a Stupid Peoples'' War without stupid people...Keep voting Demopublican!! ''Honour'' depends on it!! - Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
