Iraqi forces take lead in only 8 percent of Baghdad: US general

Source: Agence France-Presse

Iraqi forces take lead in only 8 percent of Baghdad: US general

by Jim Mannion
11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iraqi forces have taken the lead
for security in only about eight percent of Baghdad's
neighborhoods more than eight months after the start of
the US troop surge, a senior US commander said Friday.

Major General Joseph Fil said violence has declined sharply
in the city and more than half of its 474 neighborhoods, or
"mahalas," are under the joint control of US and Iraqi forces,
up from about 19 percent in June.

But the percentage of neighborhoods that have moved to
what the military terms the "retain" phase of the security
operation, in which Iraqi forces are in the lead and US
troops are on standby, has remained stubbornly small.

"This is dynamic, and 8.2 percent is where we stand
today," said Fil, who commands the US-led Multi-National
Division in Baghdad. That compared to seven percent in
June.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070921/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary_070921182226

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Source: Reuters

US, Iraqi forces control half of Baghdad--general
21 Sep 2007 17:56:47 GMT

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. or Iraqi forces
control more than half of Baghdad's neighborhoods while
the rest still experience fighting and sectarian violence,
the U.S. commander in Iraq's capital said on Friday.

Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil said Iraqi forces led security
efforts -- with U.S. oversight -- in 8.2 percent of
Baghdad's 474 neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods have
have been cleared of insurgent fighters and are now
being "retained" by Iraqi forces, he said.

U.S. forces control more than 46 percent of the city's
neighborhoods, Fil said. Once violence is reduced, those
areas will move to the "retain" phase generally led by
Iraqi forces.

Fil said the statistics mark a significant improvement from
mid-February when 91 percent of Baghdad's neighborhoods
showed higher levels of violence.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21322698.htm

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. or Iraqi forces control more than half of Baghdad's neighborhoods while the rest still experience high levels of fighting and sectarian violence, the U.S. commander in Iraq's capital said on Friday.

Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil said Iraqi forces led security efforts -- with U.S. oversight -- in 8.2 percent of Baghdad's 474 neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods have have been cleared of insurgent fighters and are now being "retained" by Iraqi forces, he said.

U.S. forces control more than 46 percent of the city's neighborhoods, Fil said. Once violence is reduced, those areas will move to the "retain" phase generally led by Iraqi forces.

Fil said the statistics mark a significant improvement from mid-February when 91 percent of Baghdad's neighborhoods showed higher levels of violence.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21393261.htm

which makes it a total of 50%+

Many areas that used to have both Shi & Sunni or were all Sunni no have almost no
Sunnis (Fled or are dead).

So after 4.5 years less than half of Baghdad is safe? Mission accomplished.

But the escalation is working!!!

Those neighborhoods will now be "retained" by the religious fanatics who spurred the 'cleansing.'

Over a million Iraqis dead, and many more fled the country, so Iraq could be cut up into little theocracies. Oh, yes, the Republican image of society is breathtaking, indeed.