WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A top U.S. military official said in Baghdad Wednesday that major changes are afoot in the battle for Baghdad.
As U.S. President George W. Bush receives briefings from his national security team on a strategy change for Iraq, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told reporters that the Iraqi government would be taking the lead in Operation Together Forward, the so-far failing effort to bring Baghdad, torn apart by sectarian and political violence, under control.
At a brief press conference Thursday, Bush gave no hint what the new strategy may be. Caldwell said Wednesday it involves a larger role for Iraqis.
"The one significant difference occurring here is you're going to see the government of Iraq in the lead, you're going to see the Iraqi security forces, their chain of command taking a much greater responsibility and role in the command and control of this operation, and in the formulation of ... of changes that are being made," Caldwell said. "You'll see the Iraqi security forces -- really, the minister of defense, along with the government of Iraq having had a tremendous say in how they want to achieve greater security in their city, with us truly working just in support of them."
Caldwell said another Iraqi battalion has been sent to Baghdad, joining two additional brigades that joined four Iraqi brigades there this fall. That is still well short of the two additional brigades of Iraqi forces that U.S. commanders want Iraq to commit to the fight. The United States has five brigades in Baghdad and two just outside the city.
Those forces will be moving in shortly, Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey told Pentagon reporters Dec. 19.
"We've got two or three brigade headquarters and six additional battalions that are scheduled now over the next couple of months to come to Baghdad," Dempsey said.
