Bush orders offensive to stabilize Iraq before exit
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has orders to accelerate its
counter-insurgency offensive in Iraq.
Officials said the Defense Department has directed the U.S. military in
Iraq to intensify operations against Al Qaida and Shi'ite insurgents. They
said the administration wants to ensure that Iraq becomes stabilized by the time
President George Bush leaves office in January 2009.
"The idea is to achieve a strategic change in Iraq before the next
president enters office," an official said. "We want him to see that he has
inherited a stable Iraq and need not rush into any decision regarding troop
levels."
[On Nov. 10, a triple suicide bombing killed at least 28 people in
central Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the attack was comprised of two suicide car
bombings followed by an Al Qaida agent who blew himself up in the crowd of
responding police and ambulances.]
Officials said U.S. and Iraqi operations against Al Qaida were taking
place around Baghdad and Mosul, two leading strongholds of the Sunni
insurgency. On Nov. 5, two Al Qaida operatives were killed in a U.S. air
strike. One of the insurgents was said to be a network leader in the Mosul
area.
At the same time, the U.S. military reported the capture of 15 Al Qaida
suspects. One of the detainees was identified as an expert in improvised
explosive devices in Baghdad connected to the insurgency leadership.
"During another round of devastating blows to Al Qaida in Iraq networks,
coalition forces captured 22 suspects Friday [Nov. 7] and Saturday [Nov. 8]
throughout Iraq," a U.S. military statement said.
Officials said the Pentagon has ordered the advancement of a U.S. troop
reduction in Iraq. They said the military intends to deploy 14 combat
brigades in Iraq by the end of November 2008, nearly two months ahead of
schedule.
