Perspective: Hand-over of security largely ceremonial for U.S. troops

A ceremonial offering of two slaughtered sheep greet attendees at the formal transfer of authority ceremony

AL KASIK, Iraq - Even as the 3rd Division of the Iraqi army raised its flag and symbolically took control of this community's security during a hand-over ceremony earlier this week, its U.S. military counterpart promised that it wouldn't abandon the division. They'd still fight side by side, the American soldiers assured the Iraqi ones.

"This is one of the most significant days in the history of the new Iraq," were the words that U.S. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, the commander of the Multinational Division, North, used to describe the hand-over before thousands of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers during Monday's ceremony. Then he quickly added that the Iraqi army division's commander "will continue to have the full support of my division and soldiers."

American officials in Washington and Baghdad have touted the importance of giving Iraqi forces responsibility for security as part of the U.S. exit strategy in Iraq. Most recently, President Bush said last week that he wanted to accelerate the process.

But in communities such as al Kasik where hand-overs are happening now, there's been little immediate change for American forces, either in their numbers or duties. Iraq's forces simply are unable or unwilling to shoulder the burden of battling insurgents and militias.

"They are minimally ready to defend the battle space," said U.S. Maj. William Breazele, a member of the 3rd Division Military Transition Team, which advises Iraqi army units. "They need refinements."

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