American Forces Press Service, 31 July 2008 (excerpts) -The operation now under way to clear enemies from Iraq’s Diyala province is Iraqi-conceived, Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led, a senior coalition officer said July 30.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Perkins, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, along with Iraqi Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, spoke with reporters at a Baghdad news conference.
Askari said the Iraqi Army and Police are attacking terrorists, outlaws and Iranian-backed “special groups” to deny them safe haven in the province, which runs from the outskirts of Baghdad to the Iranian border. “The operation has no timetable,” he said through a translator.

Perkins said the partnership between Iraqi and Coalition Soldiers continues to grow stronger and continues to contribute to the decline in violence throughout Iraq. Still, he gave most of the credit for the turnaround in the country to the Iraqi people.

“The Iraqi people came together in their neighborhoods and took a stand against terrorists, criminals and special groups,” he said.