Car Bomb Kills 33 in Iraq as US Pulls Back

90 Others Injured in Kirkuk Market on First Day of Iraqi Control Of Security in Cities

(CBS/AP)  Not a single American soldier was in sight. Gone, too, were the American helicopters whose buzz has for years defined Baghdad's background track.

Left alone to protect the capital Tuesday were thousands of Iraqi troops and police manning checkpoints, with army tanks deployed at potential trouble spots and convoys of pickup trucks with machine guns roaming the streets.

But it was elsewhere, 180 miles to the north, that militants delivered their first deadly challenge to Iraq's security forces on a highly symbolic day after the formal withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from cities at midnight.

A car bombing devastated a food market in the city of Kirkuk, killing at least 33 people and wounding 90. The early evening attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremist groups like al Qaeda in Iraq, was the second in the Kirkuk area since a truck bombing killed 82 people on June 20.

The latest blast was a deadly example of the violence many Iraqis fear will increase with the departure of U.S. troops from urban areas, despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's confidence in Iraq's nascent security forces.

But al-Maliki was in no mood to back down on the day his forces assumed control of the country's towns and cities from U.S. troops, reports CSS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan. He told the nation, "Those who think Iraqis are unable to defend their country are committing a fatal mistake."

That was clearly the message Maliki hoped to send with his new army's first parade: a flexing of Iraq's military muscle. The band played and tanks rolled by on the very same ground Saddam Hussein used to show his power.

But instead of the balcony where Iraq's former dictator so famously fired his rifle into the air, Iraq's leader chose a makeshift stand - as much due to security concerns as by design.

The parade avoided the famous crossed swords monument - so visible in parades of old. It's a symbol of Iraq's victory over Iran during the last war, now unpopular with the country's pro-Iranian government, Logan reports.

The bombing came hours after the U.S. military announced that four American soldiers were killed in combat Monday. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. forces since May 21, when three soldiers were killed and nine wounded in a roadside bombing in Baghdad.

"It reminds me that there are still dangers out there," Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. soldier in Iraq, said of the American deaths. "There are still people out there who do not want the government of Iraq to succeed."

But "I think sometimes you have to give up some tactical risk for strategic gain and I think this is the case," Odierno told Logan. "There might be still some little bit of tactical risk in some place but I believe it is well worth it for the strategic gain."

The strategic gain could easily be seen today - excitement on the streets of Baghdad as Iraqi forces took charge, U.S. troops nowhere in sight.

Even as Iraqis marked this milestone with pride, many were fearful of renewed violence and a government that has yet to prove it represents all of Iraq's people.

The violence marred what otherwise was a festive occasion as Iraqis commemorated the newly declared National Sovereignty Day with military parades and marching bands in the capital.

Colorful paper balls and Iraqi flags were hoisted on blast walls at checkpoints as patriotic songs blared from loudspeakers on sidewalks.

Plastic flowers and streamers decorated police and army vehicles. One car had a red heart with the English word "Love" in the middle, as if for Valentine's Day.

Some policemen danced atop their vehicles as they moved in convoys across the capital. Traffic was light in Baghdad, but particularly thorough searches at some checkpoints meant long lines of waiting cars in parts of the city.

No matter.

"I felt it was normal for an Iraqi soldier, rather than an American, to order me to stop for a search," said Ali Mohsen, a 30-year-old government employee from the mostly Shiite New Baghdad district. "The Americans' cowboy style was annoying," said Mohsen, recounting his car journey to his brother's home in eastern Baghdad.

"I hope our forces will be up to the task so we can return to normalcy," he said.

Any failure on their part could plunge the country into a new round of sectarian warfare that could seal Iraq's fate for years. Success would allow reconstruction projects to go ahead and give leaders of Iraq's rival ethnic and religious groups space to negotiate an enduring power-sharing formula.

Iraqi authorities welcomed the U.S. pullback with nationalist rhetoric and celebrations in what appeared to be an attempt by al-Maliki to rally the public behind his government and secure more support ahead of an election in January.

Al-Maliki, whose three years in office saw a dramatic decline in violence, used a nationally televised address to project an air of confidence.

"Those who think that Iraqis are incapable of protecting security in their country and that the withdrawal of foreign forces will leave a security vacuum which will be difficult for Iraqi forces to fill are making a grave mistake," the prime minister said.

In Washington, President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that "Iraq's future is in the hands of its own people," warning of more violence in the days ahead but signaling optimism that Iraq will prevail as a stable, sovereign nation.

"The Iraqi people are rightly treating this as a cause for celebration," Mr. Obama said. "The future belongs to those who build, not to those who destroy."

Mr. Obama predicted new flare-ups of violence, citing the "senseless bombing" in Kirkuk - the latest in a series of attacks that have killed close to 300 people since June 20.

"Make no mistake," Mr. Obama said, "there will be difficult days ahead."

At a news conference, Odierno charged that Iran was continuing to support and train militants in Iraq who attack U.S. and Iraqi forces with rockets and roadside bombs.

"They have not stopped and I don't think they will stop," Odierno said. "I think many of the attacks in Baghdad are from individuals that have been in fact funded or trained by the Iranians."

The U.S. pullback is a significant step toward the final American withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2011, a deadline set by a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement.

A small number of the more than 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will remain in the cities as trainers and advisers, and the military has said it will continue to provide intelligence, air power, medical and logistical assistance to Iraq's fledgling, 650,000-member security force. U.S. troops will go back into cities on missions only if requested by the Iraqis.

U.S. military officials have been purposely vague about the size and composition of the U.S. force that will stay on in urban areas. Publicizing a number, no matter how small, could irritate some Iraqis for whom the U.S. pullback is a proud moment of national significance. And if those troops' job description sounds too much like current combat operations, it could undermine the U.S. rationale for the withdrawal.

In a video conference with Pentagon reporters Tuesday, Odierno refused to give a figure for the force staying behind. "It's going to be different every single day," based on local needs, he explained.

Pressed, he said even a ballpark estimate would be inaccurate. "How many times do you want me to say that?" he snapped. "I don't know."

In the Baghdad news conference, Odierno said the Americans would continue combat operations coordinated with the Iraqis in rural areas and near the borders to target insurgent safe havens and disrupt foreign fighter smuggling networks.

Logistics have often been cited as among the main weaknesses of the Iraqi security forces, with a reliable fuel supply network, for example, not yet in place. Iraqi officers also complain of the time it takes to repair broken vehicles.

Privately, U.S. officers also fault the Iraqis for focusing too much on stationary checkpoints and not enough on foot patrols. They also speak of disciplinary problems and a lingering sectarian attitude among some members of the national police force, although thousands already have been fired by authorities for links to militias.

[mysteriousjz]

Just like a poor uneducated man in Pakistan who admitted to dropping chips in any home to point the drone attacks on people there so that he could be paid by the US (he was paid on how many people got killed by US attacks), this is also suspicious. US policies and CIA operations and Zionists taking advantage of poverty and poor people, sts are the biggest threat to the peace and security of the world including their own homelands.

[ajjaxtheleast]

So the "withdrawal" isn't exactly a withdrawal?

And General Odious Earnie wont tell us how many
troops will be STAYING in the cities?

Are these people scared silly or what,,,,
A true American troop withdrawal from the cities
would lay BARE our "victory" in Iraq,,,

Al-Maliki with the Americans gone would have to
become another Saddam to control Iraq striking
down any pretense that our 4,000 dead American
soldiers had any meaning whatsoever.

The generals will stay in Iraq to keep their
naked buns from being uncovered to
us home folks.

This is now "Operation Image Retention".

[daffy64]

Yay! A country on the other side of the planet that hates us is back in corrupt hands!

Yay!

[nofoolling]

Well we finally agreed to stop making bloodmoney in Iraq by killing folks in exchange for Exxon-Mobil having rights to the oil for the next 100 years. No wonder the folks in the Middle-East consider us "The Great Satan."

But of course the hatred we created with our faked war for profit will live on for decades all thanks to the Bush/Cheney crime syndicate.

What a mess, what an embarassment, what a black eye for America to have almost a million needless and totally senseless deaths on our hands.

Start the war crime trials now.

Put Darth the Cheney behind bars where he belongs.

[stn_sage]

Just because the Iraqis are taking over doesn't mean the violence is going to stop! No way! It's going to go on!

We've stayed there as long as we have, to prepare them to take over under
these condition! It's up to them!

It's THEIR country, and sooner or later, for better or worse, THEY are the ones who are going to have to defend it!

We KNEW the violence wasn't going to stop as we shifted into 'stand down' mode, so there's no point in being alarmed about it!

Unfortunately, it's just another Middle-East day...with violence! The people there live with it, so should we!

[mnguyen4]

Over 1 million Iraqis have been killed. Thousands of American deaths and casualties have been recorded since President George W. Bush ordered the US Invasion of Iraq 6 years ago to get rid of Saddam?s WMD?s. Today?s Iraq is torn by political rivalries and civil strife not seen in the 20th Century.

After a few years of trying to pacify Iraq through the use of military technology and firepower, through unconventional methods like harsh interrogation techniques and intimidation, through bribery, the US military could not bring the country to its knees.
Now the military prepares to abandon towns and cities to the corrupt Iraqi regime to deal with a rapidly deteriorating economic situation. The unemployment and underemployment rate in Iraq is around 30%, according to some estimates. Even though no WMD?s were found, Iraq has around 115 billion of barrels in oil reserves; and these cannot fall into the hands of the Red Chinese. By the way, the Iraqi oilfields are being operated by ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP which are the main sources of wealth for the American ruling elite.
And that?s the truth behind the American invasion followed by long occupation. Bush, Cheney, and the neo-Cons like to tell to the American people false stories about WMD?s, ElQuaeda in Iraq and its link to 911, democracy, Iran, etc. Eventually, these lies cannot perpetuate anymore.

[zamorin44]

The civil war in Iraq srarts right on the heels of the U.S withdrawal and the homily of Obama from the White House,

[daffy64]

We invade iraq becuase of all those WMD's. TRILLIONS spent. Thousands killed.

North Korea actually threatens us, and has WMD's....splain that to us all nutjobs.

--

Yeah, but there's no OIL in South Korea. Just starving Koreans.

Which oil rich country is next?

Whoops, I better now say that. I'm Canadian and we're your largest supplier of oil.

[daffy64]

Just imagine if the US had never invaded Iraq!

No threats (as in weapons of mass destruction) to the USA and you'd have trillions to spend on...oh lets's see...fixing the economy and health care.

Oh well. At least a county on the other side of the planet that still hates you has a new leader.

Yawn.

[zonkzilla]

I am going to celebrate. The usual daily car bomb in Iraq and no US solidiers killed! You see I care more about the lives of my brothers and sisters serving in Iraq then I do the oil companies, unlike the Republicans and the oil company puppets of right wing talk shows.

[stevex47]

We invade iraq becuase of all those WMD's. TRILLIONS spent. Thousands killed.

North Korea actually threatens us, and has WMD's....splain that to us all nutjobs.

[mcintoshlou]

THE RIGHT WING NUTBAGS EXPLAIN NOTHING,

THEY ONLY REPEAT WHAT THEY WERE TOLD TO REPEAT.

MINDLESS EVANGELICAL BROOD MARES, THE REPUBLI'CON's

[sean58z]

Technology is the real answer. Baghdad must purchase equipment for intelligence and danger warning. Criminals will plant bombs when the government is not vigilant. Barack Obama has the right idea suggesting that Americans infuriate the underworld culture in the Middle East. Baghdad will only restore peace after effectively dealing with the syndicate infesting Iraq.

[wyodutch]

Well, temporarily saving Iraq from the Iraqis has only cost America 4 thousand plus lives and a couple trillion dollars that we had to borrow from the red chinese.
.
In a matter of months, Iraq will return to what it was before we invaded and occupied... a graveyard for anyone stupid enough to believe they can force democracy, theocracy or any other sort of 'acy' on them.
.
What a criminal waste of lives and treasure.
.

[daffy64]

Yeah, but that will all be "Obama's fault" right? ;-P

[pepperwood2]

Clinton: Iraq Is On The Right Track - In Surprise Visit To Baghdad Says U.S. Will Help In Creation Of Non-Sectarian Security Force

Clinton said Iraq had made great strides, despite the latest violence that has killed hundreds of people.

The secretary of state arrived in Baghdad a day after back-to-back suicide bombings killed 71 people outside the most important Shiite shrine in Baghdad.

Those attacks came after 88 people were killed by suicide bombers in Baghdad and Muqdadiyah, north of the capital, on Thursday.

Trust us she said. The President, and I are in this together. We're going to be here for you. Now if you'll excuse me I have go powder my nose. Cackle cackle cackle.

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Of course someone is going to do this & buck against the law. Now we need to just step back & let the Iraqi's take care of it. I really hope that they can & do, so that the men & women who have fought didn't do it for nothing.

[ajjaxtheleast]

Has Rush's Talking Point Central got repubs
offering a ridiculous post??:,,,,

"All the bombings after January 4th belong to Obama!"

Since repubs NEVER point out something
GOOD about Obama,,,they mean that bombings are bad,,,

But that only bombings which explode after
Obama became president are bad,,,,

That's where repubs stop,,,(they posted the
talking point that Rush sent them so there's no
way a dem can come back at them.)

Soon though rush will realize his error and send repubs
the talking-point-patch to rationalize against,,,

,,,"But Bush was the president when the same terrorists
were planting the same type bombs in the same places!!!"

[vistavermin1]

Obama in charge bombing go up... What those that tell you...

[mcintoshlou]

TELLS ME THAT VISTAVERMIN IS A TOTAL IDIOT

TYPICAL REPUBLI'CON', A TOTAL LOSER

[USASTILLONTOP]

taebok- No it's because you liberal bleeding hearts like to cut and run..

[daffy64]

LMAO... yeah... THAT'S what it is... you cons haven't been right about one single thing yet

Iraq helped in 9/11
Iraq has WMD's
Saddam is an immediate threat to America
Oil will pay for the war.
America will be welcomed as liberators

Don't you guys ever get tired of being wrong?
--

Right on. I wish the people or Iraq all the best, but another civil war is coming.

[mcintoshlou]

TAEBOK IS RIGHT ON, AND YOU MR USAONTOP,

ONCE AGAIN WE ASK YOU, MR BLOWHARD,

ON TOP OF WHAT? ,

THE PILE OF EXCREMENT LEFT FOR THE AXIS OF EVIL TYPES,

THE USA IS THE WORLD GREATEST VIOLATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS,

AND THE WORLD GREATEST OF WAR MONGERS,

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF,

TRY READING YOUR OWN CONSTITUTION SOME TIME