General: Troops must help boost Iraq’s economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military in Iraq must shift its focus toward helping the government restore basic services and boost the economy, while still holding onto fragile security improvements, the top U.S. general in Iraq said Friday.

In a letter to his troops, Gen. David Petraeus said that even as the U.S. begins to pull out forces from Iraq, the military must capitalize on the recent decline in attacks and casualties.

“While the progress in a number of areas is fragile, the security improvements have significantly changed the situation in many parts of Iraq,” Petraeus said in the letter sent Friday. “It is now imperative that we take advantage of these improvements by looking beyond the security arena and helping Iraqi military and political leaders as they develop solutions in other areas as well, solutions they can sustain over time.”

Specifically, he said troops need to help the Iraqi government create jobs, revitalize markets, refurbish schools and restore critical services. The Iraqis have struggled to provide basic electricity and water — with Baghdad residents averaging a little more than 11 hours of electricity a day, according to a recent report.

At the same time, Petraeus said the U.S. also must press the Iraqis to pass critical political reforms and help them develop their government agencies and aid returning refugees. He said that while progress toward political reform has been slow, leaders are starting to make some progress.

The new emphasis on aiding the government, Petraeus said, must come “while continuing to draw down our forces, thinning our presence, and gradually handing over responsibilities to our Iraqi partners.”

Mapping out the expected withdrawal of U.S. troops over the coming months, Petraeus said that so far one Army brigade and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have gone home and have not been replaced. Four more brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit in the next six months or so.