General: Iraqi insurgency 'withering on the vine'

Marine Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, pauses while speaking to members of the media at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday. The general sounded upbeat about progress in the war in Iraq. <br><small><B>HAYNE PALMOUR IV</B> Staff Photographer </small> <br><A HREF="https://secure.townnews.com/nctimes.com/forms/photo_services/linkorder.php?des= HAYNE PALMOUR IV Staff Photographer / Marine Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, pauses while speaking to members of the media at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday. The general sounded upbeat about progress in the war in Iraq." target="new">Order a copy of this photo</A> <!— <br><A HREF=" ">More of this story</A> —> <br> <A HREF="http://www.nctimes.com/news/photogallery/" target="new">Visit our Photo Gallery</A> <br> <hr width="250">