BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has asked the Iraq Army to send at
least 5,000 soldiers to bolster security in Iraq.
At least 58,000 Iraqi
military and police as well as U.S. troops have been deployed in the Iraqi
capital since Operation Together Forward, which began in June.
"I would tell you I need more Iraqi security forces," Maj. Gen. James
Thurman, commander of the U.S.-led Multinational Division Baghdad, said. "I
don't think putting more coalition in here is the right answer. That's my
answer because, I think, with the security forces from the Iraqi side that
we have, they're committed."
[Over the weekend, U.S.-led forces captured 21 suspected insurgents
around Baghdad. At the same time, insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades
and machine guns toward an Iraq Army battalion and eight attackers were
detained, Middle East Newsline reported.]
So far, Baghdad contains 15,000 U.S. forces, 9,000 Iraq Army forces,
12,000 national police, and 22,000 local police, officials said. They said
the U.S. military has requested two additional Iraq Army brigades amid
numerous complaints that Iraqi units were ill-disciplined and often
ineffective.
Thurman said the additional Iraqi troops would help maintain control
over Baghdad neighborhoods. He said the Iraqi Defense Ministry was working
to supply the soldiers, but did not say when this would take place.
Officials said many Iraqi soldiers have refused to leave their homes to
report for duty in Baghdad.
"The whole point is to keep the people looking forward to a better
future," Thurman told a Pentagon video-conference on Sept. 22. "It will take
time, and it requires more than just a military solution to stop violence.
The Iraqis have to want unity and security more than we do, and I believe
we're beginning to see that."
Officials said the key challenge for Iraq was to confront militias,
particularly the so-called death squads, responsible for the torture and
death of thousands of Iraqis every month in Baghdad. They said Iraqi
security forces must also increase their presence and influence in the city.
"Baghdad security hinges on the capabilities of the Iraqi security
forces," Thurman said. "They are fighting and dying for their country every
day and have made great strides."
Officials said Iraq has been increasing its security presence in
Baghdad. Since June, they said, the Iraqi presence has increased from two
brigades and six battalions in the lead in operations to more than 26
battalions today.
"I think the government is trying to come to grips with the security
needs, and we have a determined enemy out there that's trying to disrupt
this government -- a democratic form of government," Thurman said. "And
we're here assisting them to work through these tough security issues."
