Pace Declares `sea Change' in Iraq (AP)

Pace Declares `sea Change' in Iraq

Tuesday July 17, 2007 11:46 AM

By ROBERT BURNS

AP Military Writer

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) - In his most optimistic remarks since the U.S.
troop buildup began, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, said Tuesday that Iraq has undergone a “sea change”
in security in recent months, and that this will influence his
recommendation to President Bush on how long to continue the
current strategy.

After conferring with Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin and other commanders
in this provincial capital west of Baghdad, Pace told reporters he
has gathered a positive picture of the security environment not only
here but also in Baghdad, where he began his Iraq visit on Monday.

He was asked whether this would inform his thinking about whether
to continue the current strategy, with extra U.S. troops battling to
security Baghdad and Anbar province.

“It will because what I'm hearing now is a sea change that is taking
place in many places here,” he replied. “It's no longer a matter
of pushing al-Qaida out of Ramadi, for example, but rather - now
that they have been pushed out - helping the local police and the
local army have a chance to get their feet on the ground and set
up their systems.”

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