King: Gains in Iraq make Al-Qaeda limited threat
2:17 PM
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008
Making his sixth trip to Iraq since the March 2003 U.S. invasion, Iowa 5th District Congressman Steve King said there is such strong improvement in security that terrorist group al-Qaida has been rendered ineffective.
King was last in Iraq in July 2007, and this morning said he's now seeing "a stark contrast" in security following the 2007 U.S. troop surge. King said "we are on the cusp of a victory," but it's still to early to declare victory, he added.
He said U.S. combat deaths in Iraq have equaled those of accidental deaths since July 1, a statistic that points to increased security.
King, a supporter of the 30,000-strong troop surge, said there is "almost no al-Qaida south of Baghdad," and virtually none in northern Kurdish Iraq, leaving the last al-Qaida stronghold near Mosul.
Further, King said, "for all practical purposes, sectarian violence is over... There never was a civil war in Iraq. The Iraqis are taking control."
Republican King said it's too early to state when a big movement of troops back to America could proceed. He said some troops deployed who have rotated back home aren't being replaced, so the number of soldiers has dropped to 147,000.
"We'll need to be there for a long time in an advisory capacity," he said. "... This war won't end with a signing ceremony."
Read more of this story Saturday in the Journal's print edition and online.
King was last in Iraq in July 2007, and this morning said he's now seeing "a stark contrast" in security following the 2007 U.S. troop surge. King said "we are on the cusp of a victory," but it's still to early to declare victory, he added.
He said U.S. combat deaths in Iraq have equaled those of accidental deaths since July 1, a statistic that points to increased security.
King, a supporter of the 30,000-strong troop surge, said there is "almost no al-Qaida south of Baghdad," and virtually none in northern Kurdish Iraq, leaving the last al-Qaida stronghold near Mosul.
Further, King said, "for all practical purposes, sectarian violence is over... There never was a civil war in Iraq. The Iraqis are taking control."
Republican King said it's too early to state when a big movement of troops back to America could proceed. He said some troops deployed who have rotated back home aren't being replaced, so the number of soldiers has dropped to 147,000.
"We'll need to be there for a long time in an advisory capacity," he said. "... This war won't end with a signing ceremony."
Read more of this story Saturday in the Journal's print edition and online.
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Pete wrote on Aug 29, 2008 3:53 PM:
DB wrote on Aug 29, 2008 2:38 PM: