Press release: 20100307-USD-C
March 7, 2010

BAGHDAD (March 7, 2010) – Iraqi Security Forces are ready for anything, say U.S. officials whose forces have partnered with the ISF for several months to advise and assist them in preparing for today’s national elections.

So far, that partnership has proven successful.

Terrorists have initiated a number of small-scale explosions around Baghdad. All attempts so far have fallen short in deterring voter turnout. Iraqi citizens continue to move to the polls and cast their votes in this historic election.

Several explosions that have been felt around the city have destroyed only dilapidated cars and abandoned buildings. In Al Anbar, the ISF arrested attackers in two separate incidents before they could get to their intended targets.

As U.S. forces escort international observers near polling stations, the ISF is manning multiple layers of checkpoints leading in and out of the polling stations. U.S. forces are to provide security assistance and augment the ISF with bomb-sniffing dog teams, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, and explosive ordnance teams when requested.

The ISF has been preparing several months for this moment with the partnered assistance of U.S. forces.

A week ago, polls indicated that more than 60 percent of registered voters intend to vote in the national elections; the equivalent of about 11.3 million of the 18.9 million registered voters living in Iraq and abroad. Some say that number is conservative.

Iraqi leaders have echoed the importance of the ISF taking over security in recent months, stating the ISF is more than capable of keeping the polling sites safe and secure for the voters. U.S. military leaders agree.

Voters endured more than 200 attacks the day prior to elections in 2005. But if history is any indicator of Iraqi resolve to cast a vote.

The same year that terrorists launched the 200 attacks, Iraqis defied them, showing up at polling sites in huge numbers. An eerie calm fell over the nation’s capital the next day and, as if in triumph, the sounds of explosions were drowned by a new symbol of Iraqi defiance – purple fingers.

Iraqis again showed their resilience three days ago when more than 600,000 participated in the special elections, despite two attacks in neighborhoods surrounding polling stations in Baghdad.

In one incident, an Iraqi Army captain gave his life to stop an attacker wearing a vest strapped with explosives who was attempting to through a security checkpoint. Another suicide bomber was foiled after attempting unsuccessfully to board a bus at another checkpoint.

Iraqi and U.S. leaders attribute these foiled attempts and the improved security environment to Iraqi Security Forces plans and the extensive training Iraqi soldiers and police have received with assistance from the U.S. military.

February saw one of the fewest Iraqi casualties of any month in the last three years January, the second fewest. In fact, there have been fewer casualties in three of the last four months than at any time in the last three years: a 90-percent decrease in attacks since the peak of surge operations in June 2007.

At the heart of these improvements are Iraqi soldiers and police officers, fully trained and ready to protect the voters.

“The Iraqis are poised to have a great day,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, commander of U.S. Division-Center. “The world will be watching as Iraqis go to the polls. What they are doing is absolutely historic in the Arab world.”