BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, conduct a cordon and search of a sector in the Ibrahim bin Ali suburbs of western Baghdad looking for terrorists, weapons caches and bomb-making materials as part of Operation Northern Lights.

Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, discovered a large cache of nearly 100 canisters of ammunition near the Tigris River April 7. A patrol from the 9th Cavalry searched the area and discovered a large number of munitions and mortars.

A precursory check of the cache revealed 2,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, nearly 500 mortar rounds, mortar tubes and tripods, a barrel of gun powder and other assorted munitions. Soldiers were still inventorying the canisters at press time.

Military direct action against the enemy is only part of the solution to providing security and stability to Iraq 's millions of citizens. U.S. President George W. Bush laid out the four principles of his strategy for victory in Iraq in a speech in Charlotte , N.C. April 6.

"It's important for you to know that victory will be achieved with a democracy that can sustain itself, a country that will be able to defend itself from those who will try to defeat democracy at home, a country that will be an ally in the war on terror, and a country that will deny al Qaeda and the enemies that face America the safe haven they want,” said Bush. “Those are the four categories for victory. And they're clear, and our command structure and our diplomats in Iraq understand the definition of victory."

In discussing the formation of a national unity government in Iraq , Bush conceded formerly-oppressed people will not overcome the effects of tyranny over night. He reiterated Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's recent message that Iraqis needed to have the government up and running soon.

“Her message was, let's get moving. The people want there to be a unity government. The people want there to be a democracy, and it requires leadership for people to stand up and take the lead," said the President.

The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq calculated nearly 11.9 million Iraqi's – or about 75 percent – voted in the December 2005 elections. That number represents an increase of about four million voters from the January 2005 elections. Iraqi leaders are working to form a unity government capable of representing all Iraqis.

In his weekly press conference from Baghdad April 6, Multi-National Force-Iraq Spokesman Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said forming the national unity government would demoralize terrorist and anti-Iraqi forces in the same way Iraq 's elections did.

“Candidly, there'd be much less opportunity for sectarian violence if the Iraqis could form a national unity government sooner rather than later,” said Lynch. “So, all optimism is that together they will form this government. And when the government is formed ... then the incentive for the insurgency to incite sectarian violence goes away. So the sooner that happens, the better.”

Since June 2004, when the Coalition transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi government, Iraqi people have elected an interim government, drafted and ratified a constitution and elected a four-year, constitutionally-based government.

(Compiled from official Defense Department sources)