Iraqi Forces Take Control Of Baghdad

Fireworks In Baghdad As Iraqis Take Over Control Of Cities

(CBS/AP)  Iraqi forces assumed formal control of Baghdad and other cities Tuesday after American troops handed over security in urban areas in a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country.

A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the midnight deadline passed for U.S. combat troops to finish their pullback to bases outside cities.

"The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security," said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty."

The Pentagon did not offer any comment to mark the passing of the deadline.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said Tuesday that four soldiers were killed in Baghdad on the eve of the American withdrawal. The military said the troops served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad but did not provide further details pending notification of their families.

CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan reports that Iraq's national government marked the occasion Tuesday by holding a massive military parade in Baghdad - along the same route and with the same level of nationalistic gusto displayed by Saddam Hussein in a similar rally shortly before his ouster.

Fireworks, not bombings, colored the Baghdad skyline late Monday, and thousands attended a party in a park where singers performed patriotic songs. Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital.

"All of us are happy - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much."

Al-Maliki declared a public holiday and proclaimed June 30 as "National Sovereignty Day."

Logan reports, however, that not all Iraqis are so eager to see their country's security handed over to their own federal government.

Midnight's handover to Iraqi forces filled many citizens with pride but also trepidation that government forces are not ready and that violence will rise. Shiites fear more bombings by Sunni militants; Sunnis fear that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security forces will give them little protection.

Many in the country - Sunnis in particular - do not trust their Shiite-led government, which is strongly pro-Iran.

If the Iraqis can hold down violence in the coming months, it will show the country is finally on the road to stability. If they fail, it will pose a challenge to President Obama's pledge to end an unpopular war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

Logan reports that, while American soldiers will try to disappear from the streets of Iraq's cities, they will remain at bases across the country as a "911 force" to be called upon if Iraq's own soldiers and police need back-up.

There will also still be some U.S. trainers embedded with Iraqi forces in the main cities. If those troops get into trouble, the American military must, in theory, get permission from the Iraqis to intervene, but American commanders tell Logan the U.S. forces retain the right to defend themselves.

The gathering at the Baghdad park was unprecedented in size for such a postwar event in a city where people tend to avoid large gatherings for fear of suicide bombers. They ignored an appeal by Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi to stay away from crowded places during the U.S. pullback, which has seen more than 250 people killed in bombings over the past 10 days.

Security at the party was stifling, as it was throughout much of Baghdad where increased checkpoints dotted the streets and identity checks were methodical. Police using bomb sniffers searched every man, woman and child who attended the party.

In a ceremony rich with symbolism, the top U.S. military commander in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, gave his Iraqi counterpart the keys to the former defense ministry building, which had served as a joint base.

"On the eve of the 30th of June 2009 in accord with a security agreement between Iraq and America, Iraqis take the lead in Baghdad," Bolger said.

The withdrawal, required under a U.S.-Iraqi security pact, marks the first major step toward withdrawing all American forces from the country by Dec. 31, 2011. Mr. Obama has said all combat troops will be gone by the end of August 2010.

The U.S. military will continue combat operations in rural areas and near the border, but only with the Iraqi government's permission.

The U.S. has not said how many troops will be in the cities in advisory roles, but the vast majority of the more than 130,000 U.S. forces remaining in the country will be in large bases scattered outside cities.

There have been some worries that the 650,000-member Iraqi military is not ready to maintain stability and deal with a stubborn insurgency.

Privately, many U.S. officers worry the Iraqis will be overwhelmed if violence surges, having relied for years on the Americans for nearly everything.

"We think they are ready," U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill told The Associated Press in an interview Monday. He said his main concern was that a lack of progress in efforts to reconcile Shiite, Sunnis and Kurds was feeding the violence that still marks the daily lives of many Iraqis.

"Frankly they need to pick up the pace," Hill said of the national reconciliation effort.

The commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East, Gen. David Petraeus, expressed concern about the spate of high-profile bombings but said the average daily number of attacks remained low at 10 to 15 compared with 160 in June 2007.

"While certainly there will be challenges - there are many difficult political issues, social issues, governmental development issues - we feel confident in the Iraqi security forces continuing the process of taking over the security tasks in their own country," said Petraeus after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

Despite some concerns, al-Maliki appears eager to see the Americans leave and has urged Iraqis to hold steady against any rise in violence. Ahead of national elections next year, al-Maliki is portraying himself as the leader who defeated terrorism and ended the U.S. occupation.

[chonder2]

I used to be the person to try to see both sides and maybe apply some good points from each.I knew what the Iraq invasion was all about but held out hope that some non neo Repubs would rise to the occasion and both sides could co-exist.
What pushed me over the edge was the end of this election cycle the economy started taking an alarming plunge, getting quickly worse by the week.Massive layoffs had begun and it was evident that this was going to be a financial failure equal to or worse than the great depression.By then one third of the people I knew were laid off.Obama's scheduling banker meetings,wall street rep meetings,strategy meetings.It looked very bad. Repubs at this time got together and came up with one America saving idea. One by one Repub leaders found a tv camera, and repeated that famous mantra day and night... over and over again. "TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY"!

[chonder2]

He said, he said, he said. Cheney said there were mobile WMD platforms all over Iraq. I still want to know, where's that yellow cake?

[hungry1968-15]

by impeachbhb June 30, 2009 8:18 AM PDT

He promised all troops would be out within 16 months.That means that by this time next summer, not a single American soldier will be there.







Got a link to that quote?

[parrots7]

this is just really really Dumb. Dumb Repugs !

[hungry1968-15]

by Joe_NY_15 June 30, 2009 7:59 AM PDT

What are you stupid or something ? we won the Iraq war.......against Saddam Hussein, his army, and the insurgents/Saddam loyalists, as well as the war against foreign insurgents entering the country.....Insurgency is at a low enough level to allow our troops to withdraw

You really need to stop thinking the Huffington Post is news.....it's not







Brilliant.

We "won" a war against an army with third world weapons technology, against a people that did NOTHING to us and never posed a threat to us.

We have NOTHING to show for this Pyrrhic victory except 4,300 new monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, 30,000+ permanently maimed and disfigured soldiers, and a $3 TRILLION debt.

And you somehow consider thus a VICTORY?!?!?! And you think it's MY thinking that's flawed?!?!?!

[hungry1968-15]

by notblue June 30, 2009 7:55 AM PDT
Your rebuttle proves yuor narrow visioned blinding ignorance. Libs like you mistakenly believe that isolation from the world and it's events somehow shield America and it's freedom. Good thing the Americans that came before had not adopted your nonsensical false views.







Hilarious!!!!

Please tell us ALL how the founding fathers "pre-emptively invaded" a sovereign foreign nation, because they didn't like the leader! Which country was that again?

Better yet, name ANY country that EVER invaded another country, because they didn't like their leader!!

[parrots7]

We invaded Iraq and that's now in the history books. Cheers!

[impeachbhb]

Isn't Obama wonderful. Only 5 months in office and he has already won a war!!
Have no doubt he will live up to his promise to get us out of Iraq. He promised all troops would be out within 16 months.That means that by this time next summer, not a single American soldier will be there.

Obama can also reduce the size of our military. Since he is willing to apologize for everything and not take any stand on major world issues, we will not need to be prepared for any battle. He is truly bringing peace to the world. It is like the second coming of Christ.

[parrots7]

You really should be ashamed of yourself - I would ignore u as before, again, now. Cheers !

[hungry1968-15]

by Joe_NY_15 June 30, 2009 7:21 AM PDT
The bottom line is....The war was won, American soldiers are pulling out, and the Democrats lost in their effort to undermine the war like a Fifth Column....period







We "won"?

What exactly did we "win"?

[Joe_NY_15]

What exactly did we "win"?
____________________________

What are you stupid or something ? we won the Iraq war.......against Saddam Hussein, his army, and the insurgents/Saddam loyalists, as well as the war against foreign insurgents entering the country.....Insurgency is at a low enough level to allow our troops to withdraw

You really need to stop thinking the Huffington Post is news.....it's not

[parrots7]

Especially when the news is about our troops still being killed in Iraq. Dumb Repugs !!

[hungry1968-15]

by notblue June 30, 2009 7:07 AM PDT
Hungry, explain in detail how the Iraqis, the greater middle east, and the world would be better off with Sadam still in power. It's that simple.







4,300 Americans would still be alive, and 30,000+ Americans would NOT be maimed for life.

THAT is MY primary concern.


$3 TRILLION would NOT have been wasted on that futile effort.

THAT is MY secondary concern.




As to your "irrelevant to America" question, Iraq was secure and stable BEFORE we invaded, (no bombings, insurgent attacks, IED's, etc, etc), Al Qaeda DID NOT have a safe haven in Iraq, (like they do now), AND Saddam Hussein kept Iran in check.



And under NO circumstances is our military in the "dictator removal business", nor are they the "world police".

[notblue]

Your rebuttle proves yuor narrow visioned blinding ignorance. Libs like you mistakenly believe that isolation from the world and it's events somehow shield America and it's freedom. Good thing the Americans that came before had not adopted your nonsensical false views.

[parrots7]

Notblue, you really believe we're more isolated from the world under a dem than a repug administration ? or is it that you're trying to justify the invasion of Iraq ?? You don't understand why we have to pay the PRICE that we did for the lies from your fellow Repugs ??? Especially while the POS OBL is still hiding out in a cave somewhere. What exactly is your point ?? You beleive Invading Iraq made us Safer ??? What is it ????

[docpeter1953]

From the above article, "All of us are happy - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much."
__________________________________

And there you have it folks, the common Iraqi citizen has spoken. It didn't really matter to them that we toppled Sadman and got rid of their dictator for them. They were just waiting to do it themselves, probably AFTER Sadman, Oddie and the other sociopath kids of Sadman died.

[Joe_NY_15]

The bottom line is....The war was won, American soldiers are pulling out, and the Democrats lost in their effort to undermine the war like a Fifth Column....period

Since Liberals love vicious terrorist dictators, they will always say Iraq was "better off" with the brutal dicatator....obviously, a friendly elected government is better for the Iraqi's and America, but in their desire to bash Bush, to the point of sickness, they will always claim we are not better off.

[notblue]

Hungry, explain in detail how the Iraqis, the greater middle east, and the world would be better off with Sadam still in power. It's that simple.

[chonder2]

Joe,since the Cheney admin was so righteous about the invade Iraq SCAM,they had to doctor, manipulate,lie, threaten pesonnel.Neo cons don't belong.Ask the Iraqi citizens how their neo con leaders are doing.