US General Warns Against Early Withdrawal from Iraq (1/2)

As coalition forces move to clear insurgent strongholds" class="hjdict" word="strongholds" target=_blank>strongholds like Diyala Province, north of Baghdad, as part of the new 10-day old offensive" class="hjdict" word="offensive" target=_blank>offensive, the plan is for Iraqi forces to take over and maintain security in those areas. But as he nears the end of a year-long assignment running a training program for the Iraqi Army and police, Brigadier General Dana Pittard issued this warning on Monday.

General Pittard, who was an operational commander in Diyala two years ago, says he was saddened during a visit the provincial capital Baquba, early Monday, when he saw many of the development projects he worked on lying in shambles.

He says that happened, and the province became an insurgent stronghold again, because coalition commanders moved too quickly to withdraw their own forces at the beginning of last year and handed security responsibility to the new, and unprepared, Iraqi forces. The result, he said, is nearly 10,000 U.S. troops are back in the province, working with the Iraqi Army to regain control.

Still, General Pittard says the Iraqi forces will eventually be able to take control, if they are given the time to develop the skills, leadership and logisticalinfrastructure they need.