News - 2007

SOS INTERNATIONAL SENIOR ADVISOR TO MNF-I COMMANDER CONDUCTS ARAB MEDIA TOUR TO ADDRESS CURRENT SITUATION IN IRAQ
October 25, 2007

SOS International's (SOSi) Sadi Othman, Senior Advisor to General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the Multinational-Force in Iraq (MNF-I), was interviewed on a number of television shows within the internationally-syndicated Pan Arab Media earlier this month. The media outlets included Al-Arabiya, the Arabic language television news channel, Alhurra, the U.S.-based satellite TV channel, and Radio Sawa, Arabic language radio.

Mr. Othman was sent on this press tour to comment on the testimony that General Petraeus provided on the Iraq situation during the September Congressional hearings in Washington, DC. Mr. Othman has lived and worked as a cultural advisor in Iraq for the last several years and has first-hand knowledge of the cultural dynamics of Iraqi society, interacting with Iraqi political leadership and local nationals on almost a daily basis. He has served as Senior Advisor to General Petraeus since the General assumed command of the MNF-I in February of this year. He had also worked with General Petraeus on the General's previous tours in Iraq, first as Division Commander and then as Commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command.

Mr. Othman was asked about the section of the General's report indicating that there has been a significant reduction in sectarian violence. "Compare it to last October and November," he stated. "Violence and tensions were very high then, and numerous factors have contributed to a much improved situation today. Is the current situation satisfactory? Of course not. But major reductions in violence have occurred since General Petraeus took command."

The factors contributing to the decline of violence, according to Mr. Othman, include the U.S. troop surge and tactical changes on the ground, such as U.S. troops spending more time in purged areas to build trust and critical relationships with local nationals and maintaining a larger presence in those areas to ultimately prevent terrorist returns. In addition, Mr. Othman commented that there is a large group of Iraqis, both Shiite and Sunnis, who are strongly opposed to extremism: "In essence, more and more Iraqi people are turning against the terrorists."

SOS International, Ltd. (SOSi) is a privately owned defense services firm with more than 1,200 employees worldwide.  Now in its third decade of operation, SOSi provides a wide range of analytical, training, and consulting services to the U.S. government and private sector firms in the defense and aerospace industry. It specializes in counter-terrorism and counterdrug operations, international stabilization and capacity building, public affairs and strategic communications.

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