Grinder
12 August 2003, 14:51
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2003 - Improvements in the security situation in Iraq have
allowed local commanders to become more focused and more sophisticated in their
actions against the remnants of the former regime, Pentagon officials said
today.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Joint Staff operations director, and
Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita expressed condolences to the families of two
1st Armored Division soldiers killed in a firefight in Baghdad and the Iraqi
policemen killed in a terrorist bombing of the Jordanian embassy.
"I think it is interesting that this clearly was an action targeted at
innocents," Schwartz said of the car bombing that killed 11. "We have . the
presence of terrorists in Iraq, along with Baathists and foreign fighters and
so on."
"We will seek out, develop the best intelligence that we can and we will act on
that intelligence," the general said.
Di Rita said the coalition forces will continue offensive operations to root
out these terrorists and other enemies. "The offensive operations that we have
conducted over the past several weeks continue to provide some significant
return," he said. Coalition commanders say they are able to get more precise in
raids because of the intelligence these operations yield, he pointed out.
Schwartz said coalition forces are continuing to track down former regime
loyalists, "noncompliant forces" and common criminals. The general said that
Operation Victory Bounty is tracking down members of the Saddam Fedayeen, and
he announced that U.S. forces have detained more than 70 members of the group.
This includes general and field-grade officers.
He said coalition forces are conducting almost 2,000 patrols per day, including
hundreds of night patrols and patrols with Iraqi police. The way patrols have
been conducted is changing, Schwartz noted.
"The notion is that we're actually becoming more sophisticated," he said. "In
those cases where we have to conduct a more traditional raid, we will do so. In
those cases where it is possible to act in a more sophisticated fashion, we
will do that as well - either because we have better intelligence or we
understand the environment better."
Schwartz said that attacks against coalition personnel have "declined some" in
the last three to four weeks. "My personal read is that this is a result of
offensive operations of our commanders in the field . who are engaging the mid-
level Baathists, the Fedayeen and others actively," he observed. "My read is
that's the underlying cause (to the drop)."
Di Rita said that number of attacks will "ebb and flow" but that people on the
ground - coalition and Iraqi - believe the tactics are effective.
In addition to security missions, coalition civil affairs troops are making
great strides throughout the country, he said. Civil affairs personnel are
working to improve rail service, making hospital repairs, renovating schools
and assisting farmers.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2003 - Improvements in the security situation in Iraq have
allowed local commanders to become more focused and more sophisticated in their
actions against the remnants of the former regime, Pentagon officials said
today.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Joint Staff operations director, and
Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita expressed condolences to the families of two
1st Armored Division soldiers killed in a firefight in Baghdad and the Iraqi
policemen killed in a terrorist bombing of the Jordanian embassy.
"I think it is interesting that this clearly was an action targeted at
innocents," Schwartz said of the car bombing that killed 11. "We have . the
presence of terrorists in Iraq, along with Baathists and foreign fighters and
so on."
"We will seek out, develop the best intelligence that we can and we will act on
that intelligence," the general said.
Di Rita said the coalition forces will continue offensive operations to root
out these terrorists and other enemies. "The offensive operations that we have
conducted over the past several weeks continue to provide some significant
return," he said. Coalition commanders say they are able to get more precise in
raids because of the intelligence these operations yield, he pointed out.
Schwartz said coalition forces are continuing to track down former regime
loyalists, "noncompliant forces" and common criminals. The general said that
Operation Victory Bounty is tracking down members of the Saddam Fedayeen, and
he announced that U.S. forces have detained more than 70 members of the group.
This includes general and field-grade officers.
He said coalition forces are conducting almost 2,000 patrols per day, including
hundreds of night patrols and patrols with Iraqi police. The way patrols have
been conducted is changing, Schwartz noted.
"The notion is that we're actually becoming more sophisticated," he said. "In
those cases where we have to conduct a more traditional raid, we will do so. In
those cases where it is possible to act in a more sophisticated fashion, we
will do that as well - either because we have better intelligence or we
understand the environment better."
Schwartz said that attacks against coalition personnel have "declined some" in
the last three to four weeks. "My personal read is that this is a result of
offensive operations of our commanders in the field . who are engaging the mid-
level Baathists, the Fedayeen and others actively," he observed. "My read is
that's the underlying cause (to the drop)."
Di Rita said that number of attacks will "ebb and flow" but that people on the
ground - coalition and Iraqi - believe the tactics are effective.
In addition to security missions, coalition civil affairs troops are making
great strides throughout the country, he said. Civil affairs personnel are
working to improve rail service, making hospital repairs, renovating schools
and assisting farmers.