Iraq - Iraqi Army Taking the Lead

About time some in the media started paying attention to the good news in Iraq.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- There seems to be a great deal of ignorance about the details of Iraqi force development and the level of progress that is -- and is not -- being attained. The risk is that rather than understanding that Iraqi forces may be able to achieve enough critical mass to allow major Coalition force reductions in 2006, the present lack of understanding will end in "snatching defeat from the jaws of uncertainty."

You can thank MSM for that "ignorance" and as for the "snatching defeat", that's excatly what the left aided by MSM did in Vietnam.

Key developments include:

-- A continued increase in the number of Iraqi units able to take the lead in combat operations against the insurgency. There are now 88 Iraqi army and special operations battalions conducting combat operations against the enemy -- an increase of nine since the July report. Of the 88 operational units, 36 are assessed as being "in the lead" or fully independent -- a 50 percent increase over units at these levels of readiness in the July report. There are 28 Special Police Force battalions capable of combat operations -- an increase of 13 since the last report.

-- Progress of Iraqi units in assuming responsibility for the battle space. Since the last report, Iraqi forces have taken responsibility for security in several areas of Iraq and now have the lead in one Iraqi province, roughly 87 square miles of Baghdad and over 450 square miles in other provinces.

-- A continued increase in the number of units and individuals trained, equipped, and formed into operational status. More than 87,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen have now been trained and equipped -- an increase of 10,000 since the last report. A total of 68,800 police have been trained and equipped, an increase of 5,500 since the last reporting period. These work alongside 35,500 other Ministry of Interior forces. Overall, this represents a 12 percent increase in Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior forces trained and equipped for counter-insurgency operations since July 2005.

More and more Iraq is being handed back to the Iraqi people.

Meanwhile, Iraqis are turning on Zarqawi while many of his supporters want to lay down their arms.

Don't expect the terrorists supporting BBC to report any of the good news from Iraq.
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