Pentagon says half Iraq's Army divisions take lead

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08258127.htm

Pentagon says half Iraq's Army divisions take lead

WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A fifth Iraqi Army division took control of a section of the country from U.S. forces on Tuesday, pushing to 50 percent the number of Iraqi divisions that have picked up primary responsibility for operations, according to the Pentagon.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Iraqi division took primary control of an area that includes the cities of Tikrit and Kirkuk, north of Baghdad.

While calling the transfer of control "a milestone," Whitman noted the daunting security challenges still facing military forces in some of Iraq's major population centers, notably the capital.

"I know that we've all been focused recently on the security challenge in Baghdad," Whitman said. "We've always said that the country is not monolithic when it comes to the security operations, though.

[Drum]

1. Pshaw! nt

[Monkeyman]

2. There a letter from Iraq by Peter Laech to Hastert on

http://www.dailykos.com

must read from a troop