Beggining of the End?

According to Iraq's national security advisor, the documents belonging to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, mark the "beginning of the end" for Iraq's terrorism, and has spurred a new security operation.


From Bloomberg:

The security operation is one of the largest since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Measures include increased checkpoints, a 9 p.m to 6 a.m. curfew, and enforcement of weapons laws, the military said in an e-mailed statement today. A total of 49,000 Iraqi soldiers and police and a 7,200 U.S.-led coalition force are being deployed as part of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's attempt to reestablish the rule of law in the capital.

``Baghdad is home to one-quarter of Iraq's population and is the economic and political heart of the country,'' al-Maliki was quoted by the military as saying. ``Insurgents and terrorists have targeted Baghdad to incite sectarian violence. Murders and revenge killings must be stopped.''

``Illegal armed groups will be prohibited from patrolling the streets or manning checkpoints,'' al-Maliki said yesterday, according to the military.

`Beginning of the End'

The effort to bolster security marks a step toward putting al-Maliki's new government firmly in charge of the country, U.S. President George W. Bush said yesterday at a White House news conference hours after returning from a surprise trip to Baghdad.

The material taken from Zarqawi's safe house ``has given us the edge over al-Qaeda, and also gave us the whereabouts of the networks, leaders, weapons, the way they led the organization and the location of their meetings,'' al-Rubaie said. ``We believe this is the beginning of the end of al-Qaeda in Iraq.''

Afghanistan and Iraq both undergoing very large security operations. A landmark must be in sight, or at least the administration really wants to reach a landmark quick. But good news is good news.