Iraqis find peace without US troops

After several years of a military occupation, the withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq has prompted local governments to expedite development and security initiatives within their jurisdictions.

Since US troops ended their combat operations in Iraq last summer, limiting the current military presence to “advisory and training,” most of the former military bases were handed over to Iraqi authorities.

In the city of Diwaniya, local authorities have turned one of the bases into a residential neighborhood and started to provide basic services such as better pavement, centralized electricity, and water.

The Head of the Diwaniya Governor’s Advisors Raad al-Zaidi, told Press TV that, “The withdrawal of the US troops from Diwaniya has created great stability in the region and has provided better security for the people.”

Additionally, Diwaniya’s Police Chief Abdul Khaliq Lafta believes US troops should not be credited with any major accomplishments, as Iraq’s own security forces were at the helm of most security operations.

“The US troops have handed over security to Iraqi forces since two years ago. Everything has been implemented by the Iraqi forces since then,” Lafta stated.

According to Iraqi police, almost 13,000 Iraqi forces have been deployed in the city since the withdrawal of the troops.

Ordinary Iraqis in the area also think their country has benefited from the withdrawal of US troops because it has created a better environment and helped the authorities focus better on rebuilding the region’s infrastructure.

“People have benefited from the withdrawal of US troops. The local authority has launched its reconstruction projects and there is no need for US presence in our city,” a local resident told Press TV.

Iraq’s security forces have lived up to expectations. In fact, since the withdrawal of the last US combat brigade in August, there have been no reports of violence in the city.