Odierno warns of potential revolt by Iraqis

[unhappycamper]

Odierno warns of potential revolt by Iraqis
By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Monday Sep 29, 2008 17:56:18 EDT

BAGHDAD — Dramatic security gains made in Iraq over the past year could be jeopardized if its government doesn’t improve essential services such as electricity and bring together rival political and religious factions, the new top U.S. commander in Iraq said Monday.

“They’re working toward this, but if they don’t do this, the citizens over time will potentially start to move against the government if they have to wait too much longer for services or if they don’t see progress in services,” Gen. Ray Odierno said.

“What has happened is they have rejected al-Qaida, but if the government fails them, what would happen?” he said.

Odierno told USA Today he was confident he could recommend pulling more U.S. troops from Iraq next year but called for a cautious, deliberate approach “to make sure that we don’t step backward.”

Odierno replaced Gen. David Petraeus as the commanding general of U.S. forces here in a ceremony this month. Odierno was Petraeus’ No. 2 in Iraq before returning to the United States in February. The two executed the strategy that added 30,000 troops to Iraq and helped reduce violence over the past year.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/gns_iraq_revolt_092908/%2e