Washington: Even though the coalition forces have accomplished much in a little more
than three weeks in Iraq, there is more to be done before the coalition can say, "we
have won the war", the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard
Myers has said.
While major combat operations were over, the coalition forces continue to encounter
pockets of resistance "throughout Iraq", he said.
At the same time, "We have begun transitioning from combat operations to working
with local Iraqis to stabilise and secure Iraq's cities and towns," Myers said on
April 15 at a
press conference at the foreign press centre of the US State Department.
The people of Iraq have now a unique opportunity to shape a representative
government, he said.
On Iraqi casualties in the war, Myers said, "I don't know that we will ever know for
sure how many Iraqi civilians were injured, either by the coalition or by the Iraqi
regime during this conflict. I think it will probably be near impossible to tell. As
time goes on, you will probably get better and better estimates, but they will
probably always remain at that."
As to Iraqi military casualties, he said, he had not seen any numbers on that.
"I don't know that we know that, either. It is, again, hard to tell."
PTI
