US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld penned a top-notch Op/Ed on the Iraqi defense forces in the January 4, 2005 issue of The Wall Street Jornal. The Secretary revealed that the Iraqi military/police forces have stood on the side of freedom and are beating back the dark forces that threaten democracy in Iraqi. While he noted that these troops might not be as experienced as 20 year veterans of the US army they are still bound and determined to win this lengthy fight. The most impressive point that Secretary Rumsfeld made in the Op/Ed is that the only way to ensure the success of democracy within Iraq is for the Iraqi security forces to take full responsability of their own security. Even though it might take some months or even years, the US will not leave until they are confident Iraq has secured its "ribs". Such strength is clearly emerging within the Iraqi forces which was clearly demonstrated during the January 30, 2005 Iraq election. I think Secretary Rumsfeld put it best when he wrote:
"Many thousands of Iraqi security personnel are performing exceptionally, and a few examples are worth mentioning. On Election Day, Iraqi security forces stopped a total of eight suicide bombers across Iraq who were hoping to upset the democratic process and kill innocent people. As was widely reported, one Iraqi policeman tackled and drove a suicide bomber back 50 feet from a polling station screaming, "Let me save the people!" before the bomber's belt exploded, killing them both. In the lead-up to the elections, Kirkuk police and the 207th Iraqi Army Battalion raided eight terrorist safe houses, capturing more than 30 extremists. The 205th Iraqi Army Battalion independently planned and executed an operation in the town of Miqdadiyah, capturing six extremists. Three days later, after receiving tips from local citizens, the 205th captured another 70 extremists, a large cache of weapons and bomb-making material."
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