Security Plan Brings Some Relief to Baghdadis

On February 14, the Iraqi government and coalition forces in Iraq launched a new security operation to curb the daily violence in Baghdad. The size of operation required a surge of participating Iraqi and American troops, bringing the total number of soldiers and police officers to 90,000, including 20,000 additional US soldiers deployed in the capital specifically to participate in this operation.



Under the plan, Baghdad has been divided into operational sectors, limiting the ability of militias, terrorists and criminal gangs to move or transport weapons and ammunition. Checkpoints operated by joint Iraqi-American units also provide a system of checks and balances, restricting possible abuse of power and miscommunication with the local population.



Almost a month after its launch, the security plan for Baghdad is showing its first positive results: the number of unidentified murder victims found on the streets, which had been as a high as 100 a day, has fallen considerably; car bombs and suicide bombings have also dropped significantly; families who escaped the sectarian violence are beginning to return to their homes; students are going back to their classes; weapons caches are being found and destroyed and many terrorist suspects have been arrested. It feels as though some degree of security is gradually returning to the capital's tense neighbourhoods.



The joint Iraqi/American security forces are acting in a professional and flexible manner. Whenever and wherever they face problems and challenges, their plans are adapted accordingly. The military commanders are also reaching out to the local communities and establishing ties and communication channels to improve the security and to minimise misunderstandings leading to unwanted clashes with the local population.



The relative success seems to have prompted the military and political leadership to expand the scope of operations to cover Baghdad's suburbs and neighbouring towns and to extend the timeframe of operations to the end of the year. This new development has been welcomed by most Iraqis but also has raised fears of civilian casualties as the troops move into insurgent strongholds on the outskirts of Baghdad.



The visible political and security efforts have a positive impact on different aspects of life in Baghdad; a rise in the value of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currency and an upturn in trade at the Iraqi stock exchange market. The Baghdad municipality also seems to be more active in cleaning the streets, clearing up refuse and planting trees and flowers in public squares.



But despite the relative success of security and political efforts to curb the violence and bring security, criminals and extremists are continuing their campaign of destruction.



In a recent attack, Baghdad's oldest book market, Sooq al-Seray, dating back to Abbasid era, 800 years ago, was bombed and set on fire. The market has been the most important source of books, manuscripts and literature for many years in Baghdad. Its famous restaurant, al-Shahbander Café, had been the meeting place for the intellectual elite of Baghdad, where Iraq's writers, poets, novelists, and actors met to discuss the latest literary matters, not far from Iraq's oldest library, Dar al-Hikma [house of wisdom], also dating to the Abbasid era.



But life goes on in Sooq al-Seray, in defiance of the fear and terror; and the al-Shahbander Café, damaged in the bombing, is back in business catering for its lifelong loyal customers who take huge risks to preserve Iraq's cultural life and advance the cause of freedom.



The question is whether the combined Iraqi and US “surge” will be maintained, and whether the benefits of the increased deployments in our dangerous capital will outweigh the continuing violence and resulting political pressures.



Hameed al-Maliki is a leading Iraqi political commentator.



This article has been produced with support from the International Republican Institute (IRI).