Keeping the Freedom

Petraeus: Al Qaida trying to 'come back in' — 'We can feel it'

BAGHDAD — U.S. military officials said there will be no significant reduction in coalition troops in the Baghdad area as part of an effort to stop the Al Qaida offensive in northern Iraq.

They said Al Qaida was trying to reenter Baghdad and reverse its losses in 2007.

"Al Qaida is trying to come back in," U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus said. "We can feel it and see it, and what we're trying to do is rip out any roots before they can get deeply into the ground."

The general said Al Qaida was turning to women suicide bombers because the insurgency network failed to drive car bombs through military and police checkpoints.

"Al Qaida is incredibly resilient, and they are receiving people and supplies through Syria — although numbers through Syria are down as much as 50 percent," Petraeus said.

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