Thursday, January 18, 2007

New commander discusses challenges

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq — The general responsible for day-to-day operations in Iraq said the conflict hinges on closing the gap between the people of Iraq and their fledgling government.

Nearly a month into his command of Multinational Corps – Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno spoke at length with reporters about the complex issues surrounding Operation Iraqi Freedom and some of the strategies he plans to use to help stabilize the country.

Violence from different groups has created a rift between many Iraqis and their government. In order to stabilize the country, the coalition must work with Iraqis to establish legitimate, competent Iraqi security forces and work toward provincial elections, which will produce locally elected government officials, Odierno said.

These objectives can’t be achieved through military efforts alone, however, and must be paired with economic and governmental initiatives. In order to achieve success, Americans must be patient while Iraq’s government continues on the path toward self-sufficiency, Odierno said.

Enemies that coalition forces face in Iraq break down into three main categories: Sunni extremists who seek to regain the power they had under Saddam Hussein, Al Qaeda operatives who aim to establish a safe haven from which they can conduct future terrorist operations and Shiite extremists who want to implement a strict Islamic government grounded in Sharia law, Odierno said.