From The Fresno Bee
By Lauren Frayer

U.S. soldiers in Iraq said Thursday that the success of a strategy shift announced by President Bush would depend more on implementation than numbers.

Bush unveiled a wide-ranging plan to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq to stem the spiraling attacks devastating the country, with a focus on taming the violence in the capital.

“How do you use them? That’s what’s important,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Ellis, a 35-year-old from Philadelphia who is with the 1st Cavalry Division. “If I now have to secure a much smaller area, I’ll absolutely feel the difference. It’s much easier to secure a 10-block area than a 20-block one.”

Bush also put the onus on the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government to commit more troops as well as to allow them to act against sectarian death squads, including members of the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

“The Mahdi Army is a recognized militia here, so you’ve got to be careful. You’ve got to go after what they do, not who they are. Target the illegal behavior,” said Col. Michael M. Kershaw, 45, of Huffman, Texas.

Read more Comments