FORT HOOD The number of Iraqi army battalions defending their country
has increased by 50 percent since the 4th Infantry Division took over
operations in Baghdad last month; a part of the divisions battle
space is expected to be turned over to Iraqi control by this summer,
the divisions commander said Wednesday.
The (Iraqi) soldiers are dedicated and want to help the people of
Iraq, Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman said in a video teleconference
froAdvertisement
m Baghdad.
Thurman delivered several illustrations of success throughout the
conference, the first of several planned updates to the media.
The division deployed to Iraq late last year with the mission of
training the Iraqi military and police to take over security. Thurman
said he sees progress daily and hopes to turn over the southern part
of the divisions area of operation near Karbala and Najaf to the
Iraqi military by June.
The 4th Infantrys operations are conducted jointly with Iraqi forces,
Thurman said. The soldiers have conducted 27 battalion-sized combat
operations. Among their achievements is the discovery of 15 weapons
caches in the last week alone.
The successes have come through challenges. The soldiers have endured
an increase in insurgent attacks in the last month, Thurman said.
An average of 41 attacks, mostly roadside bombs and small arms fire,
are aimed at the divisions soldiers per day throughout their
17,000-square-mile battle space. Thats up from 31 attacks per day on
average last month.
Thurman attributed the increase to terrorists trying to discredit the
fledgling Iraqi democracy and predicted the violence will increase as
the roots of government take hold further.
There is much work to be done, Thurman said. But what were doing is
right and right for the people of Iraq.
Recently, only 8 percent of roadside bomb attacks against coalition
forces are successful, and the last month has seen a substantial
decline in car bombs and rocket attacks, Thurman said.
At least 32 soldiers 18 of whom were based at Fort Hood and one
Marine attached to the division have been killed, Thurman said.
Not a day goes by I dont think about that, he said.
At least 126 soldiers of Multinational Division-Baghdad which
includes the 4th Infantry, brigades from the Fort Campbell, Ky.-based
101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division from Fort
Drum, N.Y., Iraqi brigades and soldiers from eastern Europe have been
injured, and 91 have been returned to duty, Thurman said.
Thats a testament to the level of medical care we have and the level
of training, Thurman said.
Morale remains high, as does re-enlistment at about 53 percent for
the year, and 4th Infantry soldiers are forming bonds with their
Iraqi counterparts, Thurman said.
Thurman spends about 70 percent of his time with Iraqis, and he hears
frequently about how the Iraqi soldiers want to protect their own
country and repay Americans for their sacrifices.
The division is helping to rebuild infrastructure and create more
reliable power supplies in Baghdad. They also are spraying date palm
trees to help protect the countrys crop, which is worth an estimated
$500 million.
Despite the successes, work still needs to be done in Iraq, Thurman
said. The division has two main goals for the rest of their tour,
which should end by early December: Establishing overall security of
Baghdad and continuing to rebuild the countrys infrastructure.
Once Baghdad is secure, the rest of the country should follow because
the nations capital is a center of gravity, Thurman said.
Commerce is increasing in downtown Baghdad, and Thurman said he sees
satellite dishes on many rooftops as he flies over the city,
indicating people have access to information.
Police are increasing their rule of law in places that have never had
police before, Thurman said.
Through all of these accomplishments, Thurman has remained proud of
the soldiers under his command.
If I can use one word (to describe the soldiers), it would be
magnificent, Thurman said.
Back at Fort Hood, operations continue to go well, also, said Col.
Dick Francey, the divisions rear commander.
Our overall mission is still to handle things here so the (commanding
general) doesnt have to worry about it at war, Francey said, adding
that leaders across Fort Hood have stepped in to approve finances or
contracts so Thurman can keep his concentration on the fight.
I think its going really well, Francey said.
http://www.kdhnews.com/docs/daily/headlines.aspx?sid=4
has increased by 50 percent since the 4th Infantry Division took over
operations in Baghdad last month; a part of the divisions battle
space is expected to be turned over to Iraqi control by this summer,
the divisions commander said Wednesday.
The (Iraqi) soldiers are dedicated and want to help the people of
Iraq, Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman said in a video teleconference
froAdvertisement
m Baghdad.
Thurman delivered several illustrations of success throughout the
conference, the first of several planned updates to the media.
The division deployed to Iraq late last year with the mission of
training the Iraqi military and police to take over security. Thurman
said he sees progress daily and hopes to turn over the southern part
of the divisions area of operation near Karbala and Najaf to the
Iraqi military by June.
The 4th Infantrys operations are conducted jointly with Iraqi forces,
Thurman said. The soldiers have conducted 27 battalion-sized combat
operations. Among their achievements is the discovery of 15 weapons
caches in the last week alone.
The successes have come through challenges. The soldiers have endured
an increase in insurgent attacks in the last month, Thurman said.
An average of 41 attacks, mostly roadside bombs and small arms fire,
are aimed at the divisions soldiers per day throughout their
17,000-square-mile battle space. Thats up from 31 attacks per day on
average last month.
Thurman attributed the increase to terrorists trying to discredit the
fledgling Iraqi democracy and predicted the violence will increase as
the roots of government take hold further.
There is much work to be done, Thurman said. But what were doing is
right and right for the people of Iraq.
Recently, only 8 percent of roadside bomb attacks against coalition
forces are successful, and the last month has seen a substantial
decline in car bombs and rocket attacks, Thurman said.
At least 32 soldiers 18 of whom were based at Fort Hood and one
Marine attached to the division have been killed, Thurman said.
Not a day goes by I dont think about that, he said.
At least 126 soldiers of Multinational Division-Baghdad which
includes the 4th Infantry, brigades from the Fort Campbell, Ky.-based
101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division from Fort
Drum, N.Y., Iraqi brigades and soldiers from eastern Europe have been
injured, and 91 have been returned to duty, Thurman said.
Thats a testament to the level of medical care we have and the level
of training, Thurman said.
Morale remains high, as does re-enlistment at about 53 percent for
the year, and 4th Infantry soldiers are forming bonds with their
Iraqi counterparts, Thurman said.
Thurman spends about 70 percent of his time with Iraqis, and he hears
frequently about how the Iraqi soldiers want to protect their own
country and repay Americans for their sacrifices.
The division is helping to rebuild infrastructure and create more
reliable power supplies in Baghdad. They also are spraying date palm
trees to help protect the countrys crop, which is worth an estimated
$500 million.
Despite the successes, work still needs to be done in Iraq, Thurman
said. The division has two main goals for the rest of their tour,
which should end by early December: Establishing overall security of
Baghdad and continuing to rebuild the countrys infrastructure.
Once Baghdad is secure, the rest of the country should follow because
the nations capital is a center of gravity, Thurman said.
Commerce is increasing in downtown Baghdad, and Thurman said he sees
satellite dishes on many rooftops as he flies over the city,
indicating people have access to information.
Police are increasing their rule of law in places that have never had
police before, Thurman said.
Through all of these accomplishments, Thurman has remained proud of
the soldiers under his command.
If I can use one word (to describe the soldiers), it would be
magnificent, Thurman said.
Back at Fort Hood, operations continue to go well, also, said Col.
Dick Francey, the divisions rear commander.
Our overall mission is still to handle things here so the (commanding
general) doesnt have to worry about it at war, Francey said, adding
that leaders across Fort Hood have stepped in to approve finances or
contracts so Thurman can keep his concentration on the fight.
I think its going really well, Francey said.
http://www.kdhnews.com/docs/daily/headlines.aspx?sid=4