Gen.: Waning violence means force flexibility

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Gen. Petraeus at Camp Victory
Several factors contribute to progress


Gen.: Waning violence means force flexibility
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2007 18:10:06 EST

BAGHDAD — Citing a 60 percent decline in violence in Iraq over the last six months, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said Thursday that maintaining security is easier than establishing it and gives him more flexibility in deploying forces.

Armed with charts showing that as of Wednesday, weekly attacks and Iraqi civilian deaths have continued to plunge to levels not seen here since early 2006, Gen. David Petraeus said the reduction lets him make force adjustments to address remaining problem areas, which would include northern Iraq.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Victory, he said the improved security is due to a number of factors including a “a reduction in some of the signature attacks that are associated with weapons provided by Iran,” as well as a cease-fire called by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr that he said had a particularly noticeable impact what had been one of the most violent areas of Baghdad.

The U.S. military has accused Iran of funding and arming Shiite extremists, particularly with explosively formed penetrators, an armor-piercing roadside bomb that has killed hundreds of U.S. troops. Tehran denies the charge.

Petraeus noted the numbers of such attacks has gone down. But, he added, it is “hard to tell if that’s because there has already been a cessation of provision of those items, or if there has been direction to stop.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_petraeus_071206/