Basra has been turned over to the Iraqis:
The U.S.-led coalition has been gradually transferring control of security to the Iraqi government and Britain's handover of southern Basra was the latest in a series that began in July 2006. The coalition retains control over half of Iraq's 18 provinces, including Anbar and central areas where violence has flagged but not stopped.
"This is a step toward resuming security responsibilities in all of Iraq's provinces that is due in the middle of next year," Iraqi National Security adviser Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said in Basra. He represented Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the handover ceremony in the capital of the oil-rich region.
The article notes that President Bush has predicted that Iraqis would assume control of all provinces by last month. This actually makes me feel better about the Basra turnover.
If we had reached the goal of the president's prediction, I'd worry that we were just meeting an arbitrary deadline apart from reality on the ground. We have not done so. I assume that despite the very real problems that must be confronted in the south that we have not turned over Basra without a basis of confidence that the Iraqis can control the situation.
Remember, the Iraqi government is much more capable now than they were even a year ago, and are getting better every month even as enemies wither.
