US hands some military control back to Iraq
The US handed over formal command of Iraq's armed forces to the government of the prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, yesterday, but only a minority of troops were put under direct Iraqi control.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in the defence ministry in Baghdad, the top US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, called the event an "important milestone", but the transfer only applied to the command structure, one army division, and the diminutive air force and navy.
The problems facing Iraq's security forces were demonstrated by six bombings, including three suicide attacks, on police units, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 50.
The government said it had recently executed 27 "terrorists", and Mr Maliki was defiant at yesterday's ceremony. "This is the message I have for the terrorists: we will see that you get great punishment wherever you are. There is nothing for you but prison and punishment," he said.
Read the rest at the Guardian
Speaking at the handover ceremony in the defence ministry in Baghdad, the top US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, called the event an "important milestone", but the transfer only applied to the command structure, one army division, and the diminutive air force and navy.
The problems facing Iraq's security forces were demonstrated by six bombings, including three suicide attacks, on police units, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 50.
The government said it had recently executed 27 "terrorists", and Mr Maliki was defiant at yesterday's ceremony. "This is the message I have for the terrorists: we will see that you get great punishment wherever you are. There is nothing for you but prison and punishment," he said.
Read the rest at the Guardian
posted by iraqnam at 11:28 PM
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