Although sectarian and insurgent violence In Iraq continues, the situation is better now in September 2006 than in August 2005. The U.S. has the forces and the Iraqis have the will to "start moving towards stability slowly but surely".

The sectarian violence presents a difficult problem because it is perpetrated by small groups that know their targets and can move about undetected. Between 80 and 90 percent of sectarian violence concentrates within 30 miles of Baghdad and where we have applied military force the situation improves. Quoting the General, "But we're not everywhere. We're moving step by step, section by section, and it will take some time. We will begin to really see whether or not we're being successful in a month or two".

Death squads have to be identified by intelligence and put out of action. Private militias have to be brought under government control. Talks with residents in the dangerous neighborhoods show that coalition forces are now more appreciated by the people than in the past.

With increasing Iraqi police and army forces and between 140 and 150 thousand U.S. troops in a supportive role the situation will improve over time. At present in most of the country Iraqi security forces are in the lead, not coalition forces. Six out of 10 Iraqi divisions are in the lead in their assigned areas and the 8th Iraqi division in the south is operating without U.S. backing.

As to preventing violence altogether, no police force even in America has the power to do that but it is possible to lower violence to a level that allows a country to go about its daily affairs. In Iraq Baghdad is the most important place to gain stability.

The number of U.S. forces in Iraq will vary according to circumstances. At times it has been as high as 185 thousand and as low as 120 thousand. It should be remembered that there are also 23 thousand other coalition troops and nearly 300 thousand Iraqis in their army, police, and special forces. Increasingly it is primarily Iraqi responsibility to maintain security. At this point doubling our forces would only reverse that responsibility in the wrong direction because ultimately Iraqis must control their own country. They understand that and want to take the responsibility as they become able to shoulder it.

We must also keep ability to respond if necessary in places such as the Horn of Africa where there is some form of insurgency violence in each of 27 countries. This violence is often sponsored by countries such as Iran. It is also of great importance to keep the flow of oil alive in volatile regions such as the Straits of Hormuz and the Suez Canal.

Concerning public support General Abizaid said, "Every American soldier wants as much public support as he can possibly have. That's the soldiers on duty in Iraq, and that's me, as well. We fight better knowing that our people back home support us, back us, and understand what we're doing. It's hugely important".

Concerning the patience of the American people regarding our stay in Iraq, the General said,"Our orders are to stay out in the region, to stabilize the region, to make the region much less conducive to the extremist threats that exist throughout. And it's absolutely clear to me the enemy has made Iraq the central front in the battle, not us, but the enemy. And because of that, we are fighting at the right place at the right time, and we need to get it under control".

The iraqi government has been in office only four months and they face a very difficult task in dealing with sectarian violence, insurgency, complete political and economic change, and dealing with ancient rivalries.

To quote General Abizaid, "Can they do it? Yes, they can do it. They've been in office for four months. They're Iraqi patriots before they're everything else. The more I get to know them, the more faith I have in them. And I believe, just like our own forefathers that founded this country, that there was no choice but to go forward. They know that. They'll do that. We'll help them. And when they don't need our help any longer, we'll wish them the best".

"I'm an optimist about the outcome in Iraq. I'm an optimist about the outcome in Afghanistan. I believe that we've got a rare opportunity to be in front of the extremist ideology. We can deliver it a very sharp blow that will not allow it to become mainstream anywhere. And, first and foremost, that requires us to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan but, more importantly, to help the people in the region have the tools necessary to resist the extremist trends.

The vast majority of the people in the region don't want the extremists to win. They want a better life, just like we do. And they'll be able to resist it with our help. And as we give them the tools, we'll be able to reduce our presence more and more".