Grim Historic Milestone...US Set To Hand Over Anbar Province To Iraqis

Not too long ago it was declared a lost cause. Now, the Iraqi government is set to take control of and responsibility for Anbar Province, once one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

"We believe the province could turn over to Iraqi control in just a few days," Marine General James Conway said.

"The change in the Al-Anbar province is real and perceptible," said Conway of the majority-Sunni region, which is Iraq's largest.

"Anbar remains a dangerous place, but the ever growing ability of the Iraqi security forces continues to move us closer to seeing Iraqi control of the province," the general said.

He expressed the hope that the handover of the Anbar province to Iraqi control will allow the Pentagon to redeploy troops elsewhere.

"They (the Marines) are doing a very good job of this nation-building business," in Anbar, said Conway.

"It's our view that if there is a stiffer fight going someplace else, in a much more expeditionary environment where the Marine air-ground task force really seems to have a true and enduring value, then that's where we need to be."

The handover was originally scheduled for June but there were some bumps and last minute negotiating to be done, so like everything else in Iraq it's not a done deal yet.

Still, it's hard to ignore the difference the last year and half has made in that part of the country. Of course, the MSM did their level best to do just that.

For a fuller look at the progress made there, visit Matel-In-Iraq the personal blog of John Matel, the leader of the province's reconstruction team. He's wrapping up his tour soon and has seen the changes first hand.

For the record, I'm willing to bet this news doesn't make it into anybody's speech at the Democratic Convention this week, it just doesn't fit the narrative you know.

posted by DrewM. at 01:57 PM

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