[Guest post by DRJ]

An Interior Ministry spokesman claims the Al Qaeda network in Iraq has been reduced by 75% and, in equally good news, the criminal networks that support it are being broken up:

“The Iraqi interior ministry lauded its achievements over the past year on Saturday, saying that 75 percent of Al-Qaeda’s networks in the country had been destroyed in 12 months.

Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf also outlined sharp falls in the numbers of assassinations, kidnappings and death squad murders. He told a news conference that increased patrols along the borders with Saudi Arabia and Syria had slowed infiltration by militants and played a key role in Iraq’s improved security situation.

“We have destroyed 75 percent of Al-Qaeda hide-outs, and we broke up major criminal networks that supported Al-Qaeda in Baghdad,” he said.

“After eliminating safe houses in Anbar province, which used to be Al-Qaeda’s base, we moved into areas surrounding Baghdad and into Diyala province. Al-Qaeda headed north and we are pursuing them,” he said.”

The spokesman added that Iraqi security personnel with criminal or militant ties were also being “weeded out.”

I’m sure there will be good days and bad days in Iraq’s future but I’m encouraged by reports like this that suggest Iraq is becoming more of a law enforcement problem than a military problem.

EDIT: Come to think of it, I’m also encouraged that the US military deferred to the Interior Ministry to announce this news. I have no doubt that the American military, in partnership with the Iraqi security forces, had a lot to do with decimating Al Qaeda in Iraq. Letting the Iraqis announce and implicitly take credit for this is a smart move.

— DRJ