U.S. Passes Control Of Green Zone To Iraq

While Violence Rages Beyond Baghdad, Maliki Says Handover Marks Return Of Sovereignty To Iraqi People

(AP)  The United States handed over control of the Green Zone and Saddam Hussein's presidential palace to Iraqi authorities on Thursday in a ceremonial move described by the country's prime minister as a restoration of Iraq's sovereignty.

At a ceremony marking the transition, Nouri al-Maliki said he will propose Jan. 1 be declared a national holiday to commemorate what he called "Sovereignty Day" - the day Iraq took the lead in security away from U.S. forces, regained control of its airspace and reclaimed a wide swath of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. Iraq already marks New Year's Day as a holiday.

The area that became known as the Green Zone on the west bank of the Tigris River was occupied by the United States shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion and walled off from the rest of the city.

Until Wednesday, Saddam's former palace formally served as the U.S. Embassy and headquarters of the U.S military in Iraq. Thursday's palace handover was mostly ceremonial, as most U.S. diplomats and military officials long since moved to a new embassy building on the other side of the Green Zone, which is also known as the International Zone.

"This palace is the symbol of Iraqi sovereignty and by restoring it, a real message is directed to all Iraqi people that Iraqi sovereignty has returned to its natural status," al-Maliki said.

"We have the right to be proud and to be happy and to hold celebrations these days, especially on this day," said al-Maliki, adding he would submit his national holiday proposal to the cabinet. "This day is to be remembered and we have the right to consider it a national day."

The 4-square-mile area along the Tigris is separated from the city by a 13-foot-high wall of reinforced concrete, dotted with watch towers and machine gun nests.

Restricted to U.S. and Coalition personnel, several other embassies, Iraqi ministries and parliament, it was considered the most potent and visible sign of American occupation and had often come under insurgent attacks.

Although now under Iraqi control, it is unlikely to be dismantled any time soon because of the violence persisting around Baghdad - despite an overall dramatic drop in attacks and killings nationwide.

But violence continued Thursday.

A roadside bomb killed two Iraqi soldiers in the town of Jalula, 80 miles northeast of Baghdad, a regional police official said.

In the northern city of Mosul, where the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq continues, a parked truck bomb killed three police officers trying to search it and wounded a bystander.

In the city of Kirkuk, also north of Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. troops killed three suspected al Qaeda gunmen during a raid, police said.

Violence around Iraq had plunged in 2008, with attacks declining to an average of 10 a day from 180 a year ago. The murder rate in November was less than 1 per 100,000 people - far lower than many cities in the world.

U.S. military deaths in Iraq also plunged by two-thirds in 2008 from the previous year, a reflection of the improving security following the U.S. military's counterinsurgency campaign and al Qaeda's slow retreat from the battlefield.

According to a tally by The Associated Press, at least 314 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq in 2008, down from 904 in the previous year. In all, at least 4,221 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

For Iraqis, the fatalities had also plunged: During 2008, at least 7,496 Iraqis died in war-related violence according to an AP count, including 6,068 civilians and 1,428 security personnel, down 60 percent from 2007.

The Associated Press tally does not reflect a comprehensive total for Iraqi deaths because reports do not come in from all of the country. The estimate, however, has proven accurate for tracking trends.

The plunge in violence in Iraq follows the U.S. "surge" of 2007, when thousands of additional troops were sent in to try to rein in a country that appeared to be on the verge of disintegration. That was coupled with a counterinsurgency campaign that included a decision by Sunni tribesmen to switch allegiances and fight al Qaeda. A focused effort to rout Shiite extremists also gave U.S. and Iraqi forces the upper hand.

[nincomp]

Who allowed US to have the "control" in the first place? This article fails to mention that.

[httpwwwnews]

Now can the troops come home?

[ballpen1]

Wait for the suicide bombers to get through more often now. Iraq is highly corrupt and divided, as a member of parliament i would not entrust my life to a guy who might be - behind everyones back - in cohorts with Al Sadr or Al Quida in Iraq. Good thing we got that huge, expensive, provocative embassy now, i am sure nothing will ever happen to it, just like the one in Hanoi...

[erasmus606]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Again

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 12:39 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Unlikely, but we''ll see.

[sincity_q]

It is good to see Iraqis again in charge of Iraq. We have had five years to train their army, their police and put them into a position to determine their own future.

It may be regrettable that we invaded Iraq but I for one truly hope that for once, our oft misbegotten overseas military misadvantures, will finally come to some good end.

Good luck and God speed to the people and the nation of Iraq.

[erasmus606]

Happy New Year, william.

[erasmus606]

Gotta love ''''er, eh?

Posted by slownewsdaze at 02:05 PM : Jan 01, 2009

NO.


Happy New Year!:)

[erasmus606]

Got a last name that goes with it?? Just curious, but I''''d love to know...

Posted by slownewsdaze at 02:10 PM : Jan 01, 2009

A last name that goes with what?

[erasmus606]

Ahh - that goes with the first name "Sharon". I know someone else who supposedly knows it, but I haven''''t seen them on for a bit... Thought I''''d ask. No worries, though!

Posted by slownewsdaze at 02:14 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Actually I didn''t even know that THAT person''s name was Sharon. I''m was just taking it for granted that we were talking about the same person.:)

[DragQueenWhatDragQueen]

Go ahead libs, I wanna see you congratulate Bush for this. I know its hard for you to admit Bushs victory but if try you can.

Posted by BagdadsHere9

Please, nothing is every as it seems with the Bush Crime Family. And if you twisted fools think for a second that this isn''t more of Bush''s smokescreen, WAIT FOR IT, WAIT FOR IT!

I give it two weeks, and BOOM.

Now on to the OIL THAT WE WERE TOLD WOULD BE USED TO REBUILD IRAQ. Can you tell us were that oil revenue went too.

Congratulate Bush for sinking OUR economy to "LIBERATE" the Iraqi people. That''s his "LEGACY", he''s a mess, you repugs are a mess, and everything this man touches turns into a MESS.

KEEP TRYING

[erasmus606]

I thought I saw you say something about revealing her name as you two fought, so thought you might know more than I did...

Posted by slownewsdaze at 02:21 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Nope. The only other names I know for her are B*tch and Butch.:)

[DragQueenWhatDragQueen]

You are the one who brought up Bush - in spite of the fact that this news item ILLUSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF PRESIDENT BUSH.
==========================================================


OMG now that''s FUNNY!!!!! TXGROUCH USED BUSH AND SUCCESS IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THAT''S HILARIOUS WTG FOR YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR GROUCH. YOU REPUG AREN''T THE TIGHT AZZES I THOUGHT YOU WERE.

[erasmus606]

A nice send-off present to him while he''''s away on vactation for the rest of his term in office.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 02:30 PM : Jan 01, 2009

What? Now is a poor time to be taking a vaction, don''t ya think?

[erasmus606]

He''''d better vacation in the US. If he lands anywhere else, they may just arrest him...

Posted by slownewsdaze at 02:31 PM : Jan 01, 2009

I heard he bought a home in a subdivision for when he leaves the White House. I don''t know if that was a very good idea. If I was him, I''d be moving into the boonies.

[hermitdave]

NOW if the Bush puppet masters would just give Maliki his own KEY to the executive men''s room we might believe Iraq is on its way to being a free country.

[erasmus606]

I thought you weren''''t speaking to me.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 02:42 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Well, I knew you were missin'' me, so I thought I''d put you out of your misery. hahahaha

That and the fact that it pisses off "you-know-who", when I talk to you.:)

[trapbreaker]

That picture of and Iraqi commander and an American commander is worth a thousand words. Winning the war in Iraq.

.

[erasmus606]

What, do you WANT Bush to keep wrecking our country along with Pelosi and Frank???

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 02:42 PM : Jan 01, 2009

No, he needs to stay on vacation. He''s already done too good a job at wrecking your country. Take heart, things can only go up from here.

[lopezf11]

No, he needs to stay on vacation. He''''s already done too good a job at wrecking your country. Take heart, things can only go up from here.

Posted by erasmus606

My county''s better than your country. Even now.

[lopezf11]

Freedom is a wonderful thing.

Posted by Moderator672


Won''''t it be nice when Iraq gets to experience freedom! Too bad it''''s going to take forever.

Posted by slownewsdaze

That''s okay. They''ve been around almost forever.

[erasmus606]

My county''''s better than your country. Even now.

Posted by lopezf11 at 03:05 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Do you know what country I''m in?

And I am going to have to disagree with you on that I''m afraid. The fact that everyone here has healthcare makes it better, in my opinion.

[erasmus606]

This two-party system will be the death of us - it just doesn''''t work, and causes divides where there shouldn''''t be any.

Posted by slownewsdaze at 03:04 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Why is there only 2 parties?

[ramos937]

What the bad guys could not win, we willingly surrendered to them. Our people should immedately, if not already done, withdraw to the American embassy compound. That will be Fortress America until we finally leave that tragic country.

[jsd330]

Let''s not celebrate victory yet. This was only a small area handed back over to iraq. Lets wait and see if they can hold it on their own, and what happens in the rest of iraq. Right now it is a small victory, but not total victory.

[billpl-2009]

mission accomplished

...but nothing else

[erasmus606]

Because our general voting system is majority rules.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:26 PM : Jan 01, 2009

It is?!

The majority of PEOPLE? I don''t think so. Doesn''t it usually come down to that group of people....what are they called?

[inventagod2]

''The 4-square-mile area along the Tigris is separated from the city by a 13-foot-high wall of reinforced concrete, dotted with watch towers and machine gun nests.''

Charming, the Iraqis must be thrilled.

Why do all the grumpy ex-neocons hang around CBS?

[erasmus606]

That''''''''s why most of us Texans are planning to move to Canada if Obama fouls things up.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:29 PM : Jan 01, 2009

In fact, the Vancouver area is looking pretty good to us. Nice weather (for Canada), and the scenery is pretty.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:31 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Well, if you talk REAL nice to Tucker, he could ride you up on the back of his bicycle. Of course he''s having a hard time finding someone to fix his flat. Maybe you could help him.

[erasmus606]

In fact, the Vancouver area is looking pretty good to us.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:31 PM : Jan 01, 2009

It''''s in a bad time zone, though. So like I said, it''''s all still in the talking stages.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 03:33 PM : Jan 01, 2009

What do ya mean?! When it''s dark there, we''re still in daylight. What''s better than that?

And if you come, for heavens sake leave your guns behind. And butchy too, please.:)

[erasmus606]

The health care down there is just as good as Canada and you can buy it at a price you can afford yourself

Posted by RowdynTex at 03:40 PM : Jan 01, 2009

I don''t know, I think $50 a month for a single person, $90 a month for a couple, and $100+ a month for a family is pretty cheap. What are you paying? And for that price, we can choose any doctor we want and see them whenever we want. It pays for hospital stays, surgeries, blood work, specialists, tests....

Just because your country is taking you for a ride, doesn''t mean everyone elses does.

[erasmus606]

Their generic pills are 10x worse than the brand name ones!

Posted by william783 at 03:52 PM : Jan 01, 2009

That''s simply not true, william. They are just as good.

[erasmus606]

"The try to get guys like Tucker to ride up on their bikes for a little bacon slap slap tickle?"

Posted by RowdynTex at 03:50 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Tucker decided to come up all on his own. To get away from all the cr*p going on in your country.

And I''m not trying to play slap slap tickle with ALL the men. I''m very particular. I''m only REALLY serious about ONE man. And there is a big difference between PLAYING slap slap tickle and actually spreading my legs in REAL life with some married preacher man.:)

[erasmus606]

"The only really good cowboy was John Denver."

Awww, see, now there was a real cutie.

[erasmus606]

And they don''''t gouge you for trauma stays by charging outrageous grandiose prices...it''''s limited to salaries and exact costs according to your ability to pay.

Even the Canadian government sucks off the people by allowing outrageous charges for medical care charged back to the government, and sucking up your money into the government.

Posted by RowdynTex at 04:26 PM : Jan 01, 2009

I can see you have absolutely no clue of what you are talking about. That''s okay, you aren''t alone.

And people that make under a certain amount of money, don''t have to pay.

[erasmus606]

"Texas is like Quebec."

Hahahahaha!

[troutfisher4]

Americans need to WAKE UP!

Posted by RowdynTex


They did, and kicked the dirty Republicans out of office!

[erasmus606]

"The try to get guys like Tucker to ride up on their bikes for a little bacon slap slap tickle?"

Posted by RowdynTex at 03:50 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Tucker decided to come up all on his own. To get away from all the cr*p going on in your country.

And I''''m not trying to play slap slap tickle with ALL the men. I''''m very particular. I''''m only REALLY serious about ONE man. And there is a big difference between PLAYING slap slap tickle and actually spreading my legs in REAL life with some married preacher man.:)

Posted by erasmus606 at 04:22 PM : Jan 01, 2009

And excuse me, but wasn''t someone the other day saying something about you and some BOB?:)

[erasmus606]

"Sigourney Weaver.. now there''''s an actor that don''''t believe in shoving religion down people''''s throats"

You got the hots for Sigourney too, do ya?

[erasmus606]

Grouchie

Are you going to wish me a Happy New Year before I go?

[erasmus606]

Well, he was a dumbazzz lawyer out of Harvard, lol No common sense whatsoever.

Posted by RowdynTex at 05:06 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Hmmm, seems like the two of you had something in common. After all, you were flying with him.

[troutfisher4]

I used to have my own plane, a little Cessna 172. Too many close calls, and I gave it up. But I do miss flying.

[troutfisher4]

Renting makes so much more sense, if you can find an outfit which reliably maintains their fleet. They''''ll nickel and dime you to death, otherwise. And with some pretty big nickels and dimes....!!

Posted by slownewsdaze


I am looking at ultralights right now. Just for local fun :)

[rickstas]

Do you people have designated drivers?

[erasmus606]

Would you get angry at me if I say

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 05:36 PM : Jan 01, 2009

No.

Happy New Year.

Although I already wished you a Happy New Year, last night.

[lastdance136]

CBS NEWS : Explain this Advertisement and SOLICITATION for :
S*E*X and PROSTITUTION
Posted by txgrouch2008
____
That''s the SECOND time you''ve mentioned those body parts.
You''re COMING ON to me. Oh, yah. You want me BAD.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 08:15 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Oh, now you want me to take you to have your ears pierced.
And probably buy you some earrings.
I know what you''re saying. You naughty girl.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 08:29 PM : Dec 30, 2008

Tell us what REALLY happened. Don''t leave out ANY of the juicy details.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 08:40 PM : Dec 30, 2008
_____

txgrouch2008

If you want to Advertise and SOLICIT for :
S*E*X and PROSTITUTION
You should do it Elsewhere

This is not the place to : Advertise and SOLICIT for :
S*E*X and PROSTITUTION

[lastdance136]

CBS NEWS : Explain this Threat : To use a Firearm
Posted by : txgrouch2008
_____
The world is a safer place beause I have a gun.
The world is a safer place because YOU DON''''T.
Posted by txgrouch2008 at 10:57 PM : Dec 30, 2008

[erasmus606]

If you want to Advertise and SOLICIT for :
S*E*X and PROSTITUTION
You should do it Elsewhere

This is not the place to : Advertise and SOLICIT for :
S*E*X and PROSTITUTION

Posted by lastdance136 at 05:45 PM : Jan 01, 2009



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

I''m sorry Grouchie, but I had to laugh.:)

[erasmus606]

Oh, sure. You laugh when it''''s ME.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 06:02 PM : Jan 01, 2009



Hahahahahaha, I''m still laughing. I can''t stop.:)
(I would repeat what I said before, but I wouldn''t want you thinking that I was a ****.)

Now you were saying that I was a bad girl too, but I don''t see my name mentioned in there.:)

[erasmus606]

Maybe he likes you.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 06:09 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Maybe. After all I''m a very likeable person.:):):)

Either that or it''s because I wasn''t as bad as you.

[erasmus606]

I just figured out the solution to all our problems, and nobody is here to talk about it.

Posted by txgrouch2008 at 06:13 PM : Jan 01, 2009

Go ahead I''m listening. I don''t live in your country, so I won''t know what you''re talking about though.:)