As this bit from Reuters notes, yesterday Iraq celebrated "Sovereignty Day" as U.S. forces withdrew from urban centers to large Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). This is, of course, a major step in the eventual plan to withdraw all soldiers, save for some trainers, advisers, Special Operations Forces, and certain other support elements, by 2011.
It's definitely an exciting development for Iraqis.
It's definitely an exciting development for the U.S. military.
The event was, unsurprisingly, marred by violence. The way the enemies of the current Iraqi government will try to exploit a perceived or real security gap created by this withdrawal will become one of the toughest challenges yet faced by General Odierno, or by the Obama Administration.
I find the presence of Joe Biden as the overseer-in-chief of this transition in no way heartening.
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