BAGHDAD — Iraq has conceived and launched an operation meant to
protect rival Sunni and Shi'ite sectors in the nation's capital.
"It is an evolution of the previous phases with specific enhancements
being made in the political, military and economic spheres based on the
lessons learned from the past operations," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen.
William Caldwell said. "To win this conflict, we have to protect the
population."
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki announced the implementation of Operation Law and Order on Feb. 14 in a multi-pronged effort to stabilize
the Iraqi capital, control the nation's borders and collect unlicensed
weapons, Middle East Newsline reported.
On Thursday, Operation Law and Order was expanded to include a raid of
the Dora neighborhood in southern Baghdad and Sunni fighters responded by
detonating three car bombs that killed at least four people. Later, the
Interior Ministry later said Al Qaida network chief Abu Ayyoub Al Masri was
injured in a clash with Iraqi forces in Balad, north of Baghdad.
"We have noticed that this plan started with attacking Sunni
neighborhoods in Baghdad in Ghazaliyah, Amiriyah, Jihad and Amil and
conducting random arrests," Sunni parliamentarian
Adnan Al Duleimi said. "It should not only target Sunni neighborhoods."
The counter-insurgency operation would be conducted by 90,000 Iraqi and
U.S. troops. Officials said the first units of the additional three Iraqi
and five U.S.
brigades have arrived in Baghdad and joined the operation.
Officials said Operation Law and Order, which divides Baghdad into 10
districts, also contained a civilian side. They cited a new $10 billion
Iraqi program to refurbish the 114 state-owned enterprises and assist small
businesses.
This week, the first state-owned Iraqi company won a competitive U.S.
government procurement bid of $44 million to provide uniforms to the Iraq
Army. Officials said the tender marked a civilian element to the
stabilization strategy, which they said would peak in late May.
"First, it will take time for all the additional troops being deployed
to arrive and begin operations," Caldwell told a briefing on Feb. 14.
"Second, the non-kinetic efforts will take time to produce effects on the
streets of Baghdad. It would be a mistake if expectations are raised so high
that people give up on the new strategy."
Officials said Iraqi army, Iraqi police, and coalition forces would live
together in joint security stations throughout Baghdad to ensure protection
of neighborhoods. They said the additional U.S. forces would also
enable the formation of larger coalition transition teams to assist, teach
and mentor Iraqi security forces.
Caldwell said Iraqi security forces, despite their improvement, continue
to be deficient in leadership, logistics, intelligence and loyalty. He said
the resolution of these problems would require more than two months.
"Finally, most of Iraq's problems are systemic and will not be turned
around immediately because of the new security plan," Caldwell said. "The
key to solving Iraq's problems, whether militarily, economic or political,
is leadership -- Iraqi leadership, to be precise."
