General: Attacks drop by half in northern Iraq

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Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division - North, speaks Dec. 19 during a press conference about recent efforts against al-Qaida.


General: Attacks drop by half in northern Iraq
By Patrick Quinn - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 20, 2007 5:53:25 EST

BAGHDAD — The top U.S. commander in northern Iraq warned Wednesday that al-Qaida in Iraq was still capable of staging spectacular attacks despite a 50 percent drop in bombings and other violence in his region.

Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling said that al-Qaida in Iraq was being pushed north by the increased numbers of U.S. troops that surged into Baghdad over the summer and fall, and from Anbar province by “awakening councils” — the groups of Iraqi Sunni tribesmen that the U.S. military has backed to help fight al-Qaida in Iraq and its allies.

“Many of them have transited our province” of Diyala, which has seen some of the worst violence in Iraq, he said. “There are still some very bad things happening in that province, but we are continuing to pursue al-Qaida so they don’t find a safe haven anywhere.”

He said al-Qaida extremists were still capable of carrying out attacks against infrastructure projects such as bridges.

“You know there are going to be continued spectacular attacks,” he said when asked about the Monday bombing of a bridge across Mosul Dam.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_hertling_071219/