GEN. MIXON UPDATE

I had posted in May that Gen. Mixon complained about not having enough American troops in his area of responsibility. By early July, the situation had changed and on July 5, 2007, CNN reported Mixon stating:

"I only had enough forces initially when I arrived here last September to clear Baquba. I did that many times, but I was unable to hold it and secure it," Mixon said.
"Now I have enough force to go in, establish permanent compound army, and Iraqi police, and maintain a permanent presence." But all of this has been made possible with the additional forces that have been given to me as a result of the surge," Mixon said.

Things went so well that a little over a week after this report, Mixon was talking about a possible drawdown in his sector, perhaps beginning in January 2008:

Mixon: U.S. Troop Reduction Could Begin in Jan. 2008

By Ann Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 13, 2007; 1:00 PM

"We could have a reduction of force that could begin in January of 2008, take about 12 to 18 months, to where we could have a minimum force here that would continue to work with the Iraqi forces in a training and assistance mode," Mixon said in a videoconference from Iraq with Pentagon reporters.

"I currently have five or six brigades that, given the enemy's situation and as you move forward, after about an 18-month period of time you could probably reduce that by about half," he said.

Mixon suggested that Nineveh Province could be turned over to the Iraqis this August. Below is a map I got from the BBC so you can get an idea of what area Mixon is talking about.