WASHINGTON - CIA director Porter Goss on Thursday voiced optimism about the situation in Iraq, saying that already there had been a "change of thinking" there.
"My view is there is a change of thinking in the country," Goss told the Senate armed services committee.
"That is manifest on the streets there. It is clear in the courage that the people displayed when they went out and voted" January 30, Goss said.
Still Goss cautioned: "having said all that, there is no misjudging the fact that there is still intimidation -- willful intimidation, primarily not aimed at our forces as much as innocent people and the newly being stood up Iraqi security and police forces. And that is, of course, intentional by the terrorists."
The chief of military intelligence vice admiral Lowell Jacoby, also said there had been change for the better in Iraq.
"Since the 30 January election, I believe we see some changes. Attacks had averaged about 60 per day and the last two weeks dropped approximately 50 per day, and appear to be dropping still further, which brings them considerably below the high level of activity that existed last November," he said.
"Also the attacks are basically confined to four provinces that are in the Sunni heartland and the vicinity around Baghdad, and in recent weeks, actually have concentrated on Baghdad and three cities in that some four-province area," he added.
"It's too early to say whether this is the trend. We need to be watchful and assess these changes as we see them evolve," Jacoby said.
03/17/2005 18:36 GMT