Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, told visiting US congressmen that the government had a new security plan.
The government requires "more arms for the Iraqi army, more powers and training in order to be capable of handling security missions all over the country", he told the delegation.
Attacks
On Wednesday, a car bomb exploded in a busy market near the Shia al-Kamaliyah mosque in east Baghdad. At least 10 civilians were killed, with another 26 wounded.
Two more car bombs later detonated near the Sunni al-Samuri mosque, killing at least five people and wounding at least 10.
A policeman was killed by a bomb attack elsewhere in the province, while mortars hit a house in the nearby town of Hawija, killing a mother and two of her children.
Eight people were killed in attacks across the country, including five in Baquba, capital of the Diyala province.
Two suicide car bombs also hit the headquarters of the Iraqi army's 2nd Battalion near the city of Kirkuk, killing four soldiers and wounding 10.
Transition
The Unity Government has a plan. Maliki is not calling for more USA troops. He is calling for a return of the higher competency troops that brought order before. He wants the Sunnis to have a part in the federalized and elected government. He is not asking for more USA Troops, he is asking that those that defended Iraq do it again, only in conjuction with their brothers.
There is not that much al Qaeda in Iraq that the USA has to create a greater magnet to Jihadists. That would be counter productive to peace. Al Qaeda is a reality in every Middle East nation. Actually, it is more than likely a reality in all countries. Do we all need a military presence to handle the al Qaeda elements in societies such as Saudi Arabia? No. We need better intelligence as provided by Interpol and MI5. We need cooperation of governments like Pakistan to dismantle those intent on Jihadist strategies. For God Sake, it's suicide of their young men and sometimes young women. It's unconscionable.
As the attacks continued, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, al-Maliki's national security adviser, said the new security plan involved a swifter transition from US troops to Iraqi forces.
He said US forces would move to the outskirts of Iraqi cities to combat al-Qaeda fighters, while Iraqi forces would be charged with dealing with sectarian conflict in Baghdad.
"The coalition forces should not get involved in sectarian violence - this is a job for the Iraqi security forces to do," he told CNN.
On Tuesday, the White House said George Bush, the US president, would detail a new Iraq strategy in January.
Al-Rubaie's announcement indicates changes may already be under way.
That quick?
How does that happen?
That quick !
Wow ! They are onto something. Hm?
