Brigade CO: Iraq violence reduction is fragile

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Brigade CO: Iraq violence reduction is fragile
By Peter Roger - The Pueblo Chieftain via AP
Posted : Sunday Dec 2, 2007 11:27:16 EST

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Putting 30,000 more U.S. soldiers in Iraq this summer has been key in quieting the western neighborhoods of Baghdad and is helping establish a “fragile” mood of stability and reconciliation, according to Col. Jeff Bannister, a Fort Carson brigade commander whose troops are finishing 15 months of hard fighting in the Iraqi capital.

Bannister leads the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. He conducted a live-camera press conference Friday from his headquarters in western Baghdad. The brigade, which has lost 41 soldiers killed in the past year’s fighting, is just beginning to return home this month with all of the soldiers due to be back at Fort Carson by Jan. 18.

Noting that daily attacks on U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians have dropped to just a few per day — down from 60 or 70 a day in January — Bannister said the calm is encouraging but not guaranteed. The brigade only suffered 10 wounded soldiers in October, its lowest casualty count since arriving in Iraq.

“This is a fragile situation,” Bannister said, adding that Iraqi civilians are also hopeful that more security is coming. “We need to build an irreversible momentum, hold onto what we’ve got, and get the tentacles of government services to the people.”

Electricity, sewage, schools and other basic services are still sporadic. Bannister said he believes public confidence is growing, however.

“When we first got here, the adults would never look at us as we passed, but the children always waved to us,” he said. “Now everyone waves when we’re out.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_carsoncommander_071202/