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Rescues Not Coincidence

In the midst of everything going on in Baghdad last week came the welcomed news that Christian Science Monitor reporter Jill Carroll had been released. By the time this article is published, Carroll will be in Boston for a well deserved repatriation with family and friends. It is unclear at this time why the group holding Carroll released her after more than 80 days in captivity. According to her kidnappers, it was because of the release earlier this year of some female detainees.

That is an unlikely answer. Every month the coalition routinely releases suspects rounded up in operations around the country once their true identity and intentions are known. In my opinion, Carroll was most likely released because of increasing pressure being exerted by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces on the terrorists and militias.

For example, Operation Scales of Justice began prior to the seating of the Council of Representatives on Feb. 16 and continues today; putting about 650 more U.S. troops in Baghdad to provide extra security during the formation of the Iraqi government.

In addition, eight more battalions of coalition, Iraqi army and Iraqi police forces have provided an additional 100 combat patrols throughout the city. With that increased force, each day we are able to conduct 350 patrols and operate more than 120 checkpoints around the city.

Recently, Operation Northern Lights focused on terrorist strongholds in west Baghdad adding unrelenting pressure on those that would murder,

kidnap or terrorize. During Northern Lights, key insurgents were detained, weapons caches were captured and bombmaking materials were discovered.

Remember, Carroll's release came only a week after the successful rescue of three peace activists on March 23. Based on intelligence from a detainee picked up from another raid, coalition forces acted within minutes after validating the information to launch the rescue mission. The hostages were rescued within hours and are now back with their families.

These recent rescues are not accidental, but the result of an orchestrated effort to bring security back to Baghdad. As security gets tighter, more kidnappings, murders and sectarian violence will be prevented. More and more terrorists are being detained, more information is gathered, leading to more terrorists captured. It is a beneficial cycle - and we are causing it.

No doubt, sectarian violence is still unacceptably high. Keep in mind that Saddam played on the ethnic divisions within Iraq for more than 30 years to keep himself in power. Sectarian violence is not going to end immediately, but it will end. Although the terrorists will continue to do everything they can to derail the democratic process, the new government will form and the coalition and its Iraqi Security Force partner will help usher in a new era of democracy.

Editor's note: Gen. Casey's commentary appears as a weekly column in "This Week in Iraq," published by Multinational Force-Iraq ( http://www.mnf-iraq.com/ ).

Source: Defend America


Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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