WASHINGTON - A senior US commander said Friday more US troops were needed to combat rising violence in a contested province north of Baghdad and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki`s government was not doing enough to help.
Major General Benjamin Mixon, the commander of the Multi-National Division North, also said he was concerned about the overall progress of the security forces in his area, which includes violence-stricken Diyala province.
"I do not have enough soldiers in Diyala province to keep that security situation moving," Mixon told reporters here via video link from Iraq.
He said there are plans to put more troops into Diyala and the 3,500-strong US combat brigade there already has been reinforced with a Stryker battalion, the army`s most technologically advanced unit.
"But I`m going to need additional forces in Diyala province to get that situation to a more acceptable level so the Iraqi security forces will be able in the future to handle that," he said.
Mixon`s warnings come as the US military is under pressure to turn around the security situation by September when General David Petraeus, the US commander, has promised an assessment on whether the current US strategy is working.
Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress continue to press for a withdrawal of US forces beginning as early as October.
"I`m not focused on September," Mixon said. "I`m focused on the long term capabilities of these forces, and we`re looking longterm. I believe we can make progress, we have made progress, but it needs to move at a faster rate."
Mixon would not comment directly on whether the surge would be required into next year.
But he said: "We just can`t think about pulling out of here just like that. We need to have a long term commitment in some form or fashion to ensure security in the region."
Both Sunni and Shia extremist groups have moved into Diyala from Baghdad ahead of and during the current surge in US forces centered on the Iraqi capital, the general said.
Former Baathist also are active in the province, which lies north and east of Baghdad, he said.
"As you know the enemy is being pushed around out of places like Anbar and Baghdad, and we`re anticipating some additional activity in our area," he said.
Of seven northern provinces that fall under Mixon`s command, Diyala`s is in the worst condition with rising violence, a non-functioning provincial government, and a population that is not receiving essential services.
Mixon said the central government`s support for its security forces and provincial governments throughout his area has been "mixed ... and at times ineffective."
"After nearly eight months on the ground I am concerned about the overall progress of our Iraqi security forces, and the governmental processes," he said.
The security forces -- both army and police -- lack adequate logistics support from the central government, which is also hampering pay and promotions, he said.
The bureaucracy in Baghdad is the biggest obstacle, he said, but corruption and sectarian issues also are having an impact.
"The ministries move too slow in providing support to their Iraqi security forces, and also in the area of providing support to the governors," he said. "It is getting better but it is way too slow."
The general has tried to break through the bottlenecks by taking governors in his areas provinces to Baghdad to meet with ministers, and bringing ministers to regional conferences.
05/11/2007 16:18 GMT