Baghdad, Iraq – The No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday that the next three to four months will be crucial in determining whether Washington can start to withdraw troops from Iraq without sacrificing security gains since the troop buildup began early this year.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said the number of insurgent attacks in August fell to their lowest level in more than a year, although he gave no figures. Odierno insisted that overall violence was declining, a sign that the buildup ordered by President Bush was working.
“I think the next three to four months are critical,” Odierno told reporters. “I think that if we can continue to do what we are doing, we’ll get to such a level where we think we can do it with less troops.”
On Tuesday, an al-Qaeda front group announced on an Islamist website that it was forming new suicide battalions to strike at Americans and their “renegade” allies – an apparent response to the burgeoning revolt against the terror movement.
“These battalions, with God’s help, will perform their duties in an excellent manner during the month of Ramadan, and the enemies of God will suffer,” the statement said, referring to the Muslim month of fasting that begins in about two weeks.
Odierno said U.S. forces were alert to the possibility of increased attacks during Ramadan, but in the run-up to the holy month, “violence has been going down.”
The optimistic tone of recent U.S. statements appears aimed at persuading moderate Republicans in Congress to stand by the president and resist Democratic calls to begin bringing the troops home as soon as possible.
U.S. officials acknowledge privately that they have not turned the corner in restoring security, even as they insist that trends are favorable. Last month, civilian deaths across Iraq rose to at least 1,809, the second-highest monthly total this year, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press. At least 42 people were killed or found dead nationwide Tuesday, according to police reports.
The Electricity Ministry announced Tuesday that eight of its engineers and technicians were kidnapped and murdered the day before by unknown gunmen in east Baghdad.
Despite some improvements in security, Iraqi politicians have made little progress in reaching power-sharing agreements among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, which are considered essential to lasting peace.
Iraq’s parliament reconvened Tuesday after a much- criticized month-long summer break. U.S. officials and commentators complained that Iraqis were vacationing while American troops were dying.
