One Step at a Time for Iraqi Security Forces
Last Thursday, the US military handed over control of even more territory to Iraqi forces. Babil, a once violent area south of Baghdad, is the 12th province of a total of 18 to be transferred back to Iraqi control. According to US military commanders, the frequency of attacks in the province has declined by over 80% in the past year, which is a huge improvement.
Although the Iraqi National Security Adviser claims that this progress proves the self-sufficiency of Iraqi forces, US officials insist that they are not totally ready and able to be left to operate on their own. The future is looking bright, though, as violence is declining in other provinces too (namely the western Anbar province, which if provincial elections run smoothly in the area, could also be returned to Iraqi forces very soon).
Haley Hackendale
