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Commander says Iraqis have positive impact on security

Apr- 3-2008 » Filed Under: 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes

VILSECK, Germany — One-half of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrols in southern Baghdad now involve both U.S. and Iraqi soldiers as the Iraqis take on more responsibilities, the unit’s 2nd Squadron commander said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Myron Reineke — who’s back in Vilseck on leave this month — spent part of Thursday morning at a Purple Heart ceremony for one of his soldiers who was injured March 7 in Iraq.

After the ceremony, Reineke talked about what his soldiers are doing in Iraq.

An Iraqi army battalion recently has moved into the 2nd Squadron’s area of operations in southern Baghdad. The battalion’s arrival meant a change of name for one of the unit’s bases — Combat Outpost Aztec — which has become Joint Security Station Karbdegla.

The base, which was an exclusively American facility, is now also home to Iraqi soldiers, he said.

“The Iraqi army battalion has had a great positive impact on security in our area of operations,” Reineke said. “It enables us to increase combat patrols. At least half of our patrols are now combined patrols.”

The presence of U.S. forces on the combined patrols lends legitimacy to the Iraqi forces, who are taking more responsibility for security in their own country, he said.

“Over time, they can take more and more of the lead on these operations,” he said.

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