Iraq takes control Thursday of its armed forces command, a major step in its painful path toward independence and an essential move before international troops can eventually withdraw. "This is such a huge, significant event that's about to occur tomorrow," said U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell. "If you go back and you map out significant events that have occurred in this government's formation in taking control of the country, tomorrow is gigantic." But despite the optimism, the bloodshed continues, with at least 33 people killed across the country in car bombs, mortar attacks and drive-by shootings and police finding a total of 29 bodies. The highly anticipated ceremony, which will put the prime minister in direct control of the country's military, comes five days after it was originally scheduled to be held — when the Iraqi government abruptly called it off at the last minute. Neither side publicly revealed many details of the disagreement, other than to insist that it was more procedural than any dispute over substance. The handover is so important that it was "not something you want to rush into. If there's even a question, if there's even a slightest misunderstanding, you would absolutely want to get that thoroughly resolved and have complete understanding," Caldwell said.
The U.S.-led coalition has been training and equipping the Iraqi military, hoping it soon will be in a position to take over securing the entire country and allow foreign troops to return home. But how fast this can be achieved is still unclear. "It's the prime minister's decision how rapidly he wants to move along with assuming control," Caldwell said, adding that in Thursday's ceremony, he would take complete control over the country's small naval and air forces, and the 8th Iraqi Army Division. "They can move as rapidly thereafter as they want. I know, conceptually, they've talked about perhaps two divisions a month," Caldwell said.