BAGHDAD — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq held an operational update on al-Qaeda in Iraq Wednesday at the Combined Press Information Center. Bergner named al-Qaeda in Iraq as the principal near-term threat to Iraq.
“The government of Iraq, Iraqi security forces and Coalition forces are engaged in a tough fight against al-Qaeda and in particular it’s extremist ideology and leadership,” said Bergner.
However, Bergner said both Iraqi and Coalition forces are making progress in the fight against al-Qaeda.
“We are pursuing those who run those networks, and we are enabled by increasing amounts of information from local citizens and increasing resolve by the Iraqi people to fight al-Qaeda,” he said.
Bergner said Coalition forces captured or killed 26 high level al-Qaeda leaders during May and June of this year along with hundreds of al-Qaeda members.
“We are conducting operations throughout Iraq,” he said, “with particular effectiveness in Mosul and Baghdad.”
Operations are also impacting al-Qaeda’s infrastructure, Bergner said. Last month Al-Furqan Media productions, an al-Qaeda media center near Samarra, was uncovered. The facility was a major media production and distribution center producing CDs, DVDs, posters, pamphlets, and web-related propaganda products. The facility contained documents clearly identifying al-Qaeda’s intent to use media as a weapon, said Bergner.
Bergner went on to say that Coalition forces are “taking the fight to the enemy before they have the opportunity to strike at innocent civilians in population centers.”
This month Coalition forces thwarted an al-Qaeda effort to attack Ramadi, said Bergner. The successful operation resulted in 35 al-Qaeda terrorists being killed and three others being captured.
“This engagement was an example of Coalition forces operating in areas that have served as al-Qaeda sanctuaries in the past,” said Bergner.
Bergner said while operations against al-Qaeda continue, the Coalition is supporting the Iraqi government in restoring basic services to areas once dominated by al-Qaeda.
“The Iraqi government has now restored food and medical shipments to Baquba for the first time in some 10 months,” said Bergner.
Wild Thing’s comment………
Remember how Nancy Pelosi said there were no al-Quada in Iraq? Hello Nancy do you just outright lie? I think so, do it enough and I guess you can count on your sheep in your party to believe you.
Some of Iraq’s Insurgents Working Alongside US Troops
It’s good to see more Iraqis stepping up to the plate and taking charge for themselves. The more they do this, the more we can pull back.
Patton used Nazi’s to rebuild German and MacArthur used former Japanese Imperialists to rebuild Japan. Where we screwed up in Iraq was not using the Bath Party members and military leaders to rebuild the country. These were the people with experience and knowledge. They were defeated but we failed to get them working on our side, like Patton and MacArthur did.
It has to be tough to work with former enemy. However, I can see that this can be successful, at least for awhile. It does appear to be hurting Al Quaeda and it’s allies badly. The intelligence factor alone from these Sunni fighters has to be priceless to us and devastating to Al Quaeda.
Lynn, I sure hope so. I am just so leary of these insurgents helping though. I can’t help it, it is hard for me to switch in midstream and if one of them were to injury our guys oh my gawd. But so far it seems to be working ok.
Bob, that is interesting and maybe it will mean they will be ok. I pray so.
Tom, my fingers are crossed and prayers being said that this works out ok. They are taught to lie, they have killed our soldiers in the past so I am sort of holding my breath hoping this works.Like you said it is doing damage to the al-queada.