Operation Imposing Law
Operation Imposing Law,[7][8] also known as Operation Law and Order (Arabic: عملية القانون والنظام, romanized: amaliat al-qaanoon wa an-nazaam), Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (Arabic: فرض القانون) or Baghdad Security Plan (BSP), was a joint Coalition-Iraqi security plan conducted throughout Baghdad. Under the Surge plan developed in late 2006, Baghdad was to be divided into nine zones, with Iraqi and American soldiers working side by side to clear each sector of Shiite militias and Sunni insurgents and establish Joint Security Stations so that reconstruction programs could begin in safety. The U.S. military commander in Iraq, David Petraeus, went so far as to say Iraq would be "doomed" if this plan failed.[9] Numerous members of Congress stated the plan was a critical period for the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Background[edit]
In mid-October 2006, al-Qaeda announced the creation of Islamic state of Iraq (ISI),[10] replacing the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC) and its al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).
On 10 February 2007, General David Petraeus replaced General Casey as the commander of Multi National Force-Iraq and Admiral William Fallon replaced General Abizaid as CENTCOM Commander on 16 March 2007.
The operation was led by Iraqi General Abboud Qanbar, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. General Qanbar was a compromise choice because General Mohan al-Furayji, the first choice of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to head the operation, was rejected by the U.S. Army.[11]
On the first day of the operation new checkpoints were erected and increased vehicle inspections and foot patrols were reported in some neighborhoods. The operation was billed as a major neighborhood-to-neighborhood sweep to quell sectarian violence in the city of 6 million.
