U.S. hails Iraqi resolve and business expo

BAGHDAD, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Iraq witnessed a sharp decline in average daily attacks, and the economic situation was bolstered by a business expo featuring domestic vendors.

Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, a spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, said security conditions in the country improved to a point that civil society can advance from the ground up to provide protection and municipal services for its own general welfare.

Smith highlighted the increased ranks of the Iraqi security forces in a recent news conference in Baghdad, noting the Iraqis trained more than 125,000 police officers and soldiers in 2007.

The average number of daily attacks was around 205 per day in 2007, with a peak of 210 per day in June, but Smith said the daily number of attacks in December was down 60 percent from the June levels.

Smith praised the resolve of Iraqi citizens and security forces in identifying the stockpiles of weapons used by insurgents. Iraqi and U.S-led forces uncovered more than 800 weapons caches in January, mostly from tips from citizens, Smith noted.

In addition to security improvements, Smith hailed a Baghdad business expo hosted by the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce Friday through Sunday.

Iraqi business owners packed more than 260 booths and some 8,000 people attended the event, Smith said.