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Skriven 2006-03-20 23:33:20 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0603206) for Mon, 2006 Mar 20
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Fact Sheet: Strategy for Victory: Clear, Hold, and Build
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2006

Fact Sheet: Strategy for Victory: Clear, Hold, and Build



Today's Presidential Action

Today, President Bush Discussed The Strategy For Victory In Iraq And
Profiled The Northern Iraqi Town Of Tal Afar. Once a key base of operations
for Al-Qaida, Tal Afar is a concrete example of progress in Iraq.

Tal Afar Shows How The Three Elements Of The Strategy For Victory In Iraq -
Political, Security, And Economic - Depend On And Reinforce One Another. By
working with local leaders to address community grievances, Iraqi and
Coalition forces helped build the political support needed to make the
military operation to drive terrorists out of that city successful. The
military success against the terrorists gave the citizens of Tal Afar
security, and this allowed them to vote and rebuild their city. The
economic rebuilding taking place is giving Tal Afar's residents a real
stake in the success of a free Iraq - and further marginalizing the
terrorists.

Tal Afar Was An Al-Qaida Base

After Saddam Hussein's Removal In April 2003, The Terrorists Began Moving
Into Tal Afar. With roughly the population of Akron, Ohio, Tal Afar is a
city of more than 200,000 residents. It has dozens of tribes of different
ethnicity and religions. Due to its strategic location, Tal Afar was a key
base of operations for al-Qaida. Al-Qaida's stated goal is to drive
American forces out of Iraq so they can take over the country, overthrow
moderate Muslim governments throughout the region, and use Iraq as a base
to plan and launch attacks against America. They seek to do this by
recruiting terrorists from across the Middle East to come to Iraq,
infiltrate the cities, and sow violence. After Saddam Hussein's removal,
the terrorists moved into Tal Afar seeking to divide its many ethnic and
religious groups. The terrorists forged an alliance of convenience with
those who benefited from Saddam's regime and others with their own
grievances, skillfully used propaganda to foment hostility, and exploited
the weak economy to recruit young men to their cause.
  þ We Drove The Terrorists And Insurgents Out Of The City, But They
    Returned. By September 2004, the terrorists and insurgents had seized
    control in Tal Afar. We launched a military operation that drove the
    enemy out after three days of heavy fighting. To keep the terrorists on
    the run, Coalition forces kept pursuing the enemy and rooting out the
    terrorists in other parts of Iraq. Unfortunately, the local Security
    Forces were not able to maintain order, and by November 2004, the
    terrorists had returned.

The Terrorists And Insurgents Imposed In Tal Afar The Brutal Reality They
Seek For All Of Iraq. Ruling through fear and intimidation, the terrorists
and insurgents controlled the only hospital, beheaded civilians who had
worked as interpreters for Coalition forces, gunned down a popular city
councilman, booby-trapped bodies, and deliberately fired mortars into
playgrounds and soccer fields filled with children.

Building Support For Military Operations

In Response To Experiences In Tal Afar And Elsewhere, The Coalition Adopted
A New Approach - Clear, Hold, And Build. The ability of al-Qaida and its
associates to retake Tal Afar was a problem seen elsewhere in Iraq, and the
Iraqi government and Coalition adopted a new approach. Instead of coming
in, removing the terrorists, and then moving on, Iraqi and Coalition forces
pursued a strategy of clearing a city of terrorists, leaving well-trained
Iraqi units behind to hold the city, and working with local leaders to
build economic and political infrastructure.

In May 2005, Iraqi And Coalition Forces Began Implementing This New
Approach To Restore Order In Tal Afar And Give Residents Confidence The
Terrorists Would Not Return.

Clearing And Holding Tal Afar

In The Summer Of 2005, Iraqi And Coalition Forces Launched Operation
Restore Rights To Clear Tal Afar Of Terrorists. Iraqi forces took the lead.
The primary force was 10 Iraqi battalions backed by three Coalition
battalions. Many Iraqi units conducted their own anti-terrorist operations
and controlled their own battle space. By focusing on securing the safety
of Tal Afar's population, Iraqi and Coalition forces won the trust of the
city's residents - which was critical to defeating the terrorists.

After The Main Combat Operations, Iraqi Forces Moved In To Hold The City.
More than 1,000 Iraqi Army soldiers and emergency police were deployed to
keep order, supported by a restored police force that would eventually
number about 1,700 officers. We embedded Coalition forces with the Iraqi
police and Army units to work with their Iraqi counterparts and help them
become more capable and professional. Today, the Iraqi police have built
stations throughout the city, and residents are stepping forward to provide
vital intelligence about the terrorists. By turning control of these cities
over to capable Iraqi troops and police, Coalition forces give Iraqis
confidence that they can determine their own destiny - and our troops are
better able to go after high-value terrorist targets.

Recent Elections Demonstrate The Benefits Of A Secure Environment. Tal Afar
is the largest city in Western Nineva province. In the elections held in
January 2005, only 32,000 of about 190,000 registered voters cast a ballot.
By the October constitutional referendum and December elections, Iraqi and
Coalition forces had secured Tal Afar and surrounding areas. Voter
registration increased to about 204,000, and more than 175,000 voted in
each election - more than 85 percent of the eligible voters in Western
Nineva province.

Rebuilding Tal Afar

The Residents Of Tal Afar Are Seeing Their City Come Back To Life.
Terrorists who once exercised brutal control over every aspect of the city
have been killed, captured, driven out, or put on the run. Children are
going to school, electricity and water service are restored throughout the
city, and the police force better reflects the ethnic and religious
diversity of the communities they patrol. Markets are opening, buildings
are going up, and homes are being repaired. Immediately following military
operations, the Coalition helped Iraqis set up humanitarian relief for the
civilian population, and we set up a fund to reimburse innocent Iraqi
families for damage to their homes and businesses in the fight against the
terrorists. The Iraqi government pledged $50 million to help reconstruct
Tal Afar by rebuilding hospitals and schools and by improving
infrastructure from the electric grid to the sewer and water systems.

Work Remains, But Tal Afar Exemplifies The Progress In Iraq

The Story Of Tal Afar Shows That With A Basic Level Of Safety And Security,
Iraqis Can Live Together Peacefully. After the bombing of the Golden Mosque
in Samarra, the reaction in Tal Afar was subdued, with few reports of
sectarian violence. On the Friday after the attack, more than 1,000
demonstrators gathered in peaceful protest.
  þ Despite Progress, Challenges Remain In Iraq. Though most of the country
    has remained relatively peaceful, in some parts of Iraq the enemy is
    carrying out savage acts of violence - particularly in Baghdad and
    surrounding areas. Even in Tal Afar, the people still face many
    challenges, including age-old resentments, an economy that needs to
    create jobs and opportunity for its young people, and determined
    enemies. But the progress made in bringing more Iraqi Security Forces
    online is helping bring peace and stability to Iraqi cities.

In Tal Afar, A Free And Secure People Are Getting Back On Their Feet, Are
Participating In Government And Civic Life, And Have Become Allies In The
Fight Against The Terrorists. As Iraqis see the benefits of liberty, they
will gain confidence in their future - and work to ensure that common
purpose trumps narrow sectarianism.

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