March 9, 2007

Petraeus: Security First Step to Rekindling Hope in Baghdad

BAGHDAD — The commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq discussed his first month on the job at a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center in the International Zone here Thursday.

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commanding general of MNF-I, provided an update and spoke about some impressions of his activities since assuming command in February.

“We are, in any event, still in the early days of this endeavor: an endeavor that will take months, not days or weeks, to fully implement, and one that will have to be sustained to achieve its desired effect,” said Petraeus.

One major event Petraeus commented on was Operation “Fardh Al-Qanoon,” an ongoing operation several weeks into its initial stages.

“Iraqi and Coalition forces are steadily building their strength to support the operation in Baghdad,” he said. “This buildup will continue throughout the spring, with all U.S. and Iraqi forces dedicated to the mission in place by early June.”
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