The tip that won the war

April 2006-

"The Iraqi army has proven that they're trained and capable of protecting the Iraqi people, and their nation recognizes that"

according to Multinational Division – Baghdad Commander Maj. Gen. James Thurman in a teleconference with the Pentagon press corps March 31.

As the Iraqi security forces grow in numbers, U.S. and Coalition forces are increasingly taking secondary roles in operations to secure Iraq’s future stability.

“The Iraqi security forces are in the lead”

elaborated Thurman.

“Within Multinational Division-Baghdad, seven Iraqi brigades and 18 out of 29 battalions now own battle space. Only three more brigades, consisting of 11 battalions, remain to assume battle space. The Iraqi security force and Multinational Division-Baghdad are succeeding in their mission”

“We are setting the conditions for stability and security in Baghdad ... and this is a decisive period in the campaign as Iraq transitions to self-governance.”

he said.

“The Iraqi people further demonstrate their growing trust and confidence by the use of the national tip hotline”

added Thurman.

“Over 3,000 tips have been received, and more than 2,500 of those tips have led to successful operations.”

read it all here

"More and more people are starting to see the value of the anonymous TIP hotline”

“Iraqi citizens are stepping forward to tell us about terrorist activity in their neighborhoods and now they’re starting to see tangible results like this, where lives are saved by the information they provide.”

said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson.


"Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad officials strongly encourage local citizens to report suspicious behavior by e-mailing baghdadtipshotline@yahoo.com or calling one of the TIPS hotlines at 07901737723 or 07901737727." ("Iraqi tip saves lives, Coalition forces prevent attacks" Blackanthem.com, BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 14, 2005)

"The number of insurgent attacks in Baghdad has dropped in recent weeks, and American forces are getting better at finding car bombs before they go off"

a top U.S. general in Iraq said. Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli said that on average, for every car bomb that explodes in the capital, his troops find another one and defuse it. He refused to give details, but said his troops were getting better at finding insurgents' explosives.

In the capital, Chiarelli said attacks were down... He said he was pleased that Iraqis have been calling a tip line and paying attention to billboards around the city asking them to report weapons caches or suspicious activity.

"All I can tell you is that we've got billboards all over the city, and I take great joy in the fact that I see the insurgents trying to tear them down, and we put them back up"

he said.



Brig. Gen. Donald Alston, a Multi-National Force spokesman, said

"..the best way for Iraqis to prevent violence is to report insurgent and terrorist activity through the national tips hotline and to their local authorities. All Iraqis can be confident in the abilities of the Iraqi Security Forces to protect them."

According to Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, MNF-I's deputy chief of staff for Strategic Effects, tips by civilians have proven to be an essential element for returning rule of law to Iraq.

"In December of '04, there were only about 400 tips provided by the Iraqi population to the Coalition force and Iraqi Security Force. In the month of December '05, 4,700 tips; and in the year 2005, over 30,000 tips"

Maj. Gen. Lynch said.

"So we find a majority now of our operations and Iraqi Security Force operations are intelligence-led activities based on tips provided by Iraqi citizens."

When a tip saves lives! Well done to the Iraqi people!