|
Iraqi security forces take over total security in south central Iraq
By email from Haider Ajina:
Greetings,
The following is my translation of a news release by the Iraqi news agency on January 26th. “Iraqi security forces take over total security in south central Iraq.”
“Iraqi security forces have taken over total security responsibility in Diwaniah & Wasit provinces from multi national forces on January 26th.
“This hand over of responsibility took place during a signing ceremony, which was attended by lieutenant general Peter Cearly commander of the local multi national forces, lieutenant general Khather commander of Iraq ground forces, general Peter Zerwinski and general Uthman Ali from the Iraqi Army. As well as the provincial governors of Diwaniah & Wasit, chiefs of police and border guards, Polish ambassador Raizard Kristosk, general Casey commander of the multi national forces in Iraqi, general Nezar Iraqi deputy chief of staff, local tribal leaders and employees of the provincial executive office. The local multi national forces in cooperation with Iraqi security forces have been training Iraqi forces since early 2005. The local multi national forces trained Iraqi Army units with trainers from Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Salvador, and U.S. The training was a highly condensed and concentrated on border patrol and the Iraqi 8th corps. Iraqi units had patrolled and fought along side the multi national forces and performed admirably because of the excellent training they received from the multi national forces. In September of 2005 and as a result of good training and cooperation the multi national forces vested six phalanxes from the Iraqi Army’s 8 th corps which is deployed in Babylon, Diwaniah and Alkoot..
“The next step was to vest whole divisions. In November Iraqi second division in Babylon and third division in Alkoot were vested. By January 20th 2006 training ended at the Corps level and created the 8th corps of the Iraqi Army. At the same time the multi national forces trained Iraqi border patrol in Alkoot province and assisted Iraqi police. Thus the multi national forces have trained 20,000 soldiers and Iraqi police”.
My comments,
Iraqis are taking over responsibility of their security at a rapid rate. City after city and area province after province is gradually moving security into Iraqi hands. The gradual careful and methodical patient steps taken to train Iraqis and working with them till they are ready to take over will reap tremendous benefits for democracy and the rule of law in Iraq, for now and future generations. Iraqis must trust their security forces to enforce the rule of law and not be the oppressive arm of the government as they had done during Saddam’s rule. I am certain we will be reading of more and more areas transferring security to Iraqis. The day the number of our men and women serving in Iraq will start declining is getting nearer and nearer. Our patience and tenacity has been reaping its rewards and will continue to do so.
Regards
Haider Ajina
McKinleyville Ca
No End But Victory has more:
Iraqi Security Forces Take Control of MNDCS Battlespace.
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Iraqi security forces took control of security of Diwaniya and Wasit provinces from Multinational Division Central South Jan. 26.
Battlespace assumption documents were signed by Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Multinational Corps - Iraq commander, Lt. Gen. Quadir, Iraqi Land Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Piotr Czerwinski, MNDCS commander, Maj. Gen. Othman Ali Ferhood, 8th Iraqi Army Division commander, the governors of Diwaniyah and Wasit prowinces, chiefs of police and Iraqi Border Police.
Ryszard Krystosik, ambassador of Poland, Gen. George Casey, Multinational Force – Iraq commander, and Gen. Nazir, deputy Chief of Iraqi Army General Staff, as well as local sheiks and administration representatives were also in attendance.
During the ceremony, Casey underlined that battlespace assumption was the demonstration of growing capabilities of Iraqi security forces. He thanked the MNDCS commander for the results achieved in training process.
[Read on here.]
Quagmire! Quagmire! Quagmire!
***
Don't miss Greyhawk's latest Open Post.
|
