Gen. David Petraeus (center), Multi-National Force – Iraq commander, talked security with Latif Hammad Tarfa (left), Wasit province governor, and Maj. Gen. Abd Al Hannin Hamud Faysal, Wasit chief of police, at Forward Operating Base Delta, Jan. 16. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles, Multi-National Division – Central.

Gen. David Petraeus, Multi-National Force – Iraq commander, said he was impressed with what he saw at the Zarbatiyah point of entry and al Kut. He added he was impressed with the professionalism of the Wasit Iraqi security forces.

Security was more of a concern in other provinces such as Maysan, said Petraeus.

The Wasit security forces have not taken full responsibility of security in Wasit, said Latif Hammad Tarfa, governor of Wasit. Tarfa said the security situation in Wasit is different than in other provinces.

Wasit shares many boundaries with other provinces and shares a border with Iran. Tarfa said the border with Iran has been used for decades by smugglers going to and from Iran.

“The border police and the border guards are in good control of the border,” Tarfa said.

As for six checkpoints constructed as part of Task Force Marne’s operation Marne Sentry, and manned by the 3rd Georgian Infantry Brigade, they have a deterrent effect in Wasit province, said Petraeus.

“The checkpoints discourage the transport of weapons and contraband in Wasit,” Petraeus said. “The X-rays and dogs are very useful at the border.”

To date, neither the border point of entry nor the checkpoints have yielded weapons or other contraband.

Though the Wasit security forces have made some significant gains, there are still areas where help is needed. The Wasit forces need more weapons and vehicles, said Tarfa.

“That is a common comment,” Petraeus said. “It seems the Iraqi police and the Iraqi Army are growing faster than equipment can be ordered.”

Petraeus said that more weapons and equipment have been ordered and some had recently arrived in Iraq and are being distributed throughout the country. Petraeus said there was also a need for more X-ray machines.

Tarfa said more coordination and cooperation was needed between the Coalition forces and the Iraqi security forces. He also said there needed to be more coordination to support the reconstruction development.

Currently, the Wasit reconstruction efforts are being hampered by the lack of engineers in the province. The province currently has 300 engineers, and a there are plans to increase the number of engineers by opening a college of engineering.