Iraqi security forces find success

Iraqi security forces arrested two wanted men, diffused a bomb and seized explosives in Mosul today, according to a story in Aswat Aliraq, an independent Iraqi news agency.

Aswat Aliraq also reported that Iraqi military units have moved into Diala province to participate in an operation to hunt down gunmen.

"Scores of military vehicles carrying Iraqi troops with armored vehicles, arrived today in al-Moradiya area in Baaquba on the road linking Diala to Baghdad," the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) on condition of anonymity.

"The reinforcements came to participate in the imminent military operations in Diala," he said.

These news briefs, while relatively mundane, underscore a bigger story. The Iraqi military increasingly operates independently. Slowly but surely, Iraqi security forces continue to take on more responsibility, and become more effective.

Many people I talk to labor under the misinformed notion that the U.S. fights alone in Iraq. They have no idea that the U.S. works in conjunction with the Iraqi military and police. While the Iraqis still need U.S. support, and lack the strength to engage in large scale missions on their own, the situation improves daily.

The U.S. fights in support of the democratically elected government. Contrary to what some think, we are not fighting Iraq. It astounds me how many people actually believe that. Our goal, contrary to what the leftists claim, does not involve occupation. We continue to work toward an independent Iraq, friendly towards the U.S.

It will take time and we will likely suffer setbacks. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. But things continue to progress due to the determination and persistence of our military men and women.