Iraq’s new prime minister is making a bold statement with his effort to mount a security crackdown in Baghdad. It’s a necessary step if Iraq is to achieve a measure of stability in a capital plagued too long by violence.
Operation Together Forward consists of about 26,000 Iraqi soldiers, 23,000 police and 7,200 coalition troops. It’s an opportunity for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s neophyte government to achieve credibility in hostile Baghdad neighborhoods where rival religious factions and insurgents have held sway.
Combined with the U.S. military’s finding and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born al-Qaeda chief in Iraq, al-Maliki’s filling of some key cabinet posts and President George Bush’s surprise visit, the sweeps could help blunt the insurgency by letting the people know who’s in charge.
Violence has continued unabated since the U.S.-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. In May alone, 2,155 people were killed in Baghdad. Nationwide, 203 Iraqi civilians and 78 insurgents have been killed in the past week.
Bush’s unannounced visit to Baghdad (from a strategic brainstorming session at Camp David) and his vows of resolve may give the Iraqi government an extra shot of courage.
“My message to the enemy is don’t count on us leaving before we succeed,” Bush said. “Don’t bet on American politics forcing my hand, because it’s not going to happen.” He said he didn’t expect the violence in Iraq to end any time soon.
The president reiterated that U.S. troops – now about 132,000 strong – will stay as long as necessary to give Iraqi forces time to take over.
Bush’s brief appearance in Baghdad brought howls of protest from followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who chanted, “Iraq is for Iraqis!” and “No to the occupation.” Al-Sadr’s sectarian militia is, however, a big factor in the instability that plagues Iraq.
Iraqi authorities have now banned the public carrying of firearms except by security forces and those licensed to do so. Families will be allowed to keep one automatic weapon at home for protection. A curfew will be in effect from 8:30 p.m. until 6 a.m., and a vehicle ban will be enforced from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those steps could reduce the likelihood of suicide bombings and other attacks.
Operation Together Forward is an effort to assert Iraqi authority over lawless opponents, and it comes none too soon. We hope it is the first of many successes for al-Maliki.
