| 2007: Iraq security strategy: So far, so good |
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April 16, 2007 During that time, more than 90,000 So how do we Iraqis evaluate the effectiveness of the effort so far? Most residents of the capital, I believe, would agree that the security plan is beginning to show positive results. The number of unidentified murder victims found on the streets, which had been as high as 100 a day, has fallen considerably. Car bombs and suicide bombings have also dropped significantly. Families who had fled the city because of sectarian violence are beginning to return. Students are going back to their classes; weapons caches are being found and destroyed and many terrorist suspects have been arrested. It feels as though some degree of security is gradually returning to the capital’s tense neighborhoods. Under the plan, The joint Iraqi-American security forces are acting in a professional and flexible manner. Whenever and wherever they face problems and challenges, their plans are adapted accordingly. The military commanders are also reaching out to the local communities and establishing ties and communication channels to improve the security. The relative success has prompted the military and political leadership to expand the scope of operations to cover The political and security efforts have had a positive impact on various aspects of life in The All this is not to say that violence and brutal killings don’t continue to occur on a daily basis. But for the first time in a long time, there is a sense that someone cares about providing security and basic services to the average Iraqi. That in and of itself could go a long way in eventually dampening the insurgence. Still, one overarching question remains: Will the combined Iraqi and |