Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commander of operations for Task Force Lightning and Multinational Division North, July 9.
The true measure of success is in talking to the Iraqis who are starting to return to a sense of normalcy in western Baqubah. The fact is, that you have people coming out of their houses, starting to walk to the markets, talking with each other, riding bicycles, playing soccer in the streets, allowing the return of fundamental goods and services.