In January 2007, President George Bush predicted that Baghdad would
acquire security responsibility for all 18 provinces by November of this
year. Instead, Karbala would be the eighth of 18 provinces to come under
control of the Iraqi central government.
Karbala was believed to contain a significant presence of
Iranian-sponsored Shi'ite insurgents. In January 2007, Shi'ite insurgents,
driving U.S. vehicles, wearing American uniforms and carrying M16s, raided a
U.S. position and killed five American soldiers.
Over the last nine months, Iraq has deployed more than 10,000 police
officers to maintain order in Karbala. Officials said Iraq Army and police
have been conducting independent operations.
"During the past days, our forces were able to confront and chase armed
groups without the help of the multi-national forces," Karbala police
commander Brig. Gen. Raed Shakir said. "We were able to restore security by
our own. This shows that we can work independently from the multinational
forces."
Officials have expressed optimism that the Iraq Army, meant to expand to
13 divisions in 2008, would become self-reliant. They said the
army has undergone steady improvement in training, weaponry, logistics and
combat skills.
"From my foxhole, from a training, from an equipment standpoint, from an
operational standpoint, the way that they're fighting today, the way that
they're standing firm in their ground, really conducting some sophisticated
operations throughout the country, most notably, certainly out in Al Anbar
province, but also up in Ninevah and here in Baghdad as well, so a lot of
great improvement on that line," U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Robin Swan, chief of
the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, said.
