A year ago, there were 127,000 trained and equipped members of the Iraqi security forces. Today there are more than 227,000, which reflects a 78 percent increase, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said at a news conference.
These Iraqi forces are becoming more capable and are taking the lead in operations, Lynch said. One Iraqi army division, eight brigades and 37 battalions lead operations in their areas, he said. This is compared to four brigades and 11 battalions leading operations in June 2005, he explained.
Based on current projections, 75 percent of Iraqi army brigades will take the lead in operations by this summer. And by the fall, 80 percent of Iraqi divisions will be in the lead in their areas, Lynch said.
Some Iraqi units are already conducting independent operations without coalition support, Lynch said. In December 2005, Iraqi forces conducted 550 independent operations throughout Iraq, and work is being done to make more Iraqi units as capable, Lynch said.
As we begin to pull out watch for the Democrats to try and claim it was their idea.
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