U.S. and Iraqi commanders hail improved security
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U.S. and Iraqi commanders on Saturday hailed a big improvement in security over the past year, while al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused the Americans of seeking to exploit Iraq's oil wealth.
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A revised U.S. military plan envisions establishing security at the local level in Baghdad and elsewhere by next summer, it likely would take another year to get Iraqi forces ready to enforce any newfound stability, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
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A U.S.-backed Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad will take months and "sensational attacks" will continue but there have already been encouraging signs of progress, the U.S. commander in Iraq said on Thursday.
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The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East praised Pakistan's intelligence service on Saturday for its fight against terrorism.
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The United States is expanding its military force in Iraq to the highest level of the war &#151; even higher than during the initial invasion in March 2003 &#151; in order to bolster security in advance of next month's national elections.
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AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq  - President George W. Bush said on Monday his top officials in Iraq had told him the present level of security could be maintained with fewer forces if what he called current successes continued.
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Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said that the increased effort to provide security in Baghdad had gone exceedingly well so far.
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American commanders believe it is essential to hobble the extremists in order to sustain recent security gains and ultimately pacify Iraq.
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British troops today handed over responsibilty for security in the southern Iraqi province of Basra, a major landmark in the scaling-back of the foreign military presence nearly five years on from the U.S.-led invasion. "As you step up, we step back," British commander, Maj. Gen. Graham Binns, told Iraqi leaders.
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The new top U.S. commander in Iraq said Saturday that the stakes are high but the situation is "not hopeless" as American and Iraqi forces move to quell spiraling sectarian violence in the country.
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the reduction in attacks across Iraq and called for similar improvements in the political arena.
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On Monday the leadership of the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York National Guard will be entrusted with the security of four northern provinces in Iraq.
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President Bush, in Iraq on Monday, emphasized security gains, sectarian reconciliation and the possibility of a troop withdrawal.
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Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered Iraq's military commanders on Tuesday to speed up preparations for a U.S.-backed crackdown in Baghdad after a string of attacks killed hundreds of people in recent days.
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President Bush awarded the nation's highest civilian honor Tuesday to three men central to his Iraq policy, saying they had played "pivotal roles in great events."
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Iraqi and US military commanders in Fallujah, Iraq, said today they are pleased with operations in the city, but more remains to be done.
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Baghdad's streets were electric with tension Wednesday as U.S. officials confirmed the new security operation was under way. U.S. armor rushed through streets, and Iraqi armored personnel carriers guarded bridges and major intersections.