New Baghdad Military Operation Under Way

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2007 — -- The effort to tame Baghdad is under way, with thousands of American troops pouring into Iraq's capital. But there are conflicting early accounts on how the effort is proceeding. Before the House Armed Services Committee this week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the report he's received is "so far so good."

Over the next few months, 17,000 American troops are to be joined by thousands of Iraqi police officers and soldiers in an effort to secure Baghdad. They will be clearing neighborhoods and setting up what the Pentagon calls joint security sites -- outposts manned by both Iraqis and Americans.

But many in Congress doubt that the Iraqis will perform, and some believe this is the last chance for the United States to succeed in Iraq.

Gates said an Iraqi brigade showed up in Baghdad on schedule, but only at 55 to 60 percent of its strength. Gates told lawmakers the Iraqis have, so far, fulfilled their commitment to appoint a military governor for Baghdad who is said to be serious and professional.

But Tuesday night, the Iraqi prime minister suggested the security crackdown was moving too slowly. Nouri al-Maliki was seen on Iraqi television speaking to his generals about what he called a delay. "This delay has sent a negative message. … Any delay in implementing the plan will be used by the enemies of the operation and those who want to defeat the will of the … security forces," the prime minister was quoted as saying by Reuters. "Either we all win, or we all lose. The whole world is watching us and expecting us to win."

Officials at the Pentagon said this surge of U.S. forces, or "plus up" as it is called here, has actually been under way for weeks. Since the president ordered the increase of troops, U.S. forces have moved into Baghdad and started operations. But during his testimony this week the defense secretary said the implementation was to begin this past Monday.

But he added it's a rolling start, and is not happening all at once.

And while he has not set benchmarks, Gates said he is developing a "matrix" to measure how the Iraqis perform.

The new defense secretary promised to share his measurements of Iraqi efforts with Congress. Gates reiterated today before the House committee that this is "not the last chance" to win in Iraq. But he admitted that if the security plan for Baghdad doesn't work, he's "going to have to look at other alternatives and consequences."