Thanks to General David Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force--Iraq, we have adopted a coherent and effective military strategy.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Victory Base Complex, the headquarters of Multi-National Force-Iraq, lies to the west of Baghdad on an eroded wasteland crossed by marshy canals.

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Norway has said that the six fighter jets it contributed will not take any action as long as it remains unclear which country is going to command the multi-national force.

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Ray Odierno, commander of Multi-National Force - Iraq.

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Two years later, Gen Petraeus took over command of Multi-National Force - Iraq, just as President George W Bush revamped his strategy in order to combat the insurgency and stabilise the country enough to allow a withdrawal.

BBC: Profile: David Petraeus

That way, they avoid detection by the multi-national interception force, which polices the UN sanctions but which can only operate in the international waters in the Gulf.

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France, which has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force patrol in the area, has intervened twice to release French sailors kidnapped by pirates.

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