"We are going to be in cells that can help provide enablers for them
such as aviation, such as intelligence, such as other things," Odierno said.
"And if they need help, we have those elements there to say, if they request
it, then we can bring in combat assistance to help them."
Officials said the U.S. military has already withdrawn from all Iraqi
cities with the exception of Baghdad and Mosul. They said the U.S. military
was engaged in a major operation against Al Qaida in Mosul expected to end
in mid-June.
Odierno said the U.S. military redeployment would not affect joint
operations with the Iraq Army and security forces. He acknowledged, however,
that Al Qaida and other insurgency elements have penetrated Iraqi units and
were attacking U.S. advisers.
In 2009, Iraqi soldiers have attacked their U.S. counterparts at least
six times during either joint operations or in joint bases. Officials said
the Iraq Army responded quickly to these attacks and captured suspects.
"We have to be vigilant about every individual because there are
individuals that have still infiltrated some of the Iraqi security forces,"
Odierno told a briefing in May 2009.
On June 7, U.S. troops left the first of several bases in the Mosul area
in northern Iraq. Combat Outpost Rock, located in southeastern Mosul and
meant to facilitate counter-insurgency operations, was closed and the land
was returned to its owner.
"The closing of COP Rock will allow Iraqi security forces to take
responsibility for security operations and will enable coalition forces to
focus more heavily in a training and supervisory role," U.S. Army Staff Sgt.
Devin Trathen, who lived on the base, said.
