Good News from Iraq: 8 Jun 2007

From MNF-I, Iraqi forces take lead in operations.

In Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District, Iraqi leaders were trained by Coalition forces to take charge of the operations and patrols at the Sulikh Joint Security Station.

“We’re trying to put [the Iraqis] at the forefront as far as planning our joint patrols,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Jesse Bowman, a platoon leader from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.

Coalition forces observed Iraqi Army Soldiers conducting joint patrols to assess the Iraqi forces’ ability to operate independently in the Adhamiyah District.

“I think [the Iraqi forces] can pull it off,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Phong Tran, of 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. “If it works at the lowest level, that gives me hope that it can work on a larger scale.”