An American soldier was killed by a rocket strike near Basra today, in the first US fatality since the last combat troops left Iraq.
Details of the incident were not released, but Basra airport base, which is still home to about 4,000 US forces, had experienced increased numbers of rocket attacks in recent weeks as the deadline drew near for the withdrawal of combat troops. Two soldiers suffered minor wounds in a rocket strike early last week, and rockets have hit the Green Zone in Baghdad almost daily for the past month.
| The Iraqi brigade responsible for Basra security needs to step up ... |
Around 50,000 US troops will stay in the country until next year, focusing mainly on training Iraqi security forces, but the top US military commander in Iraq said today they could return to combat operations if needed. General Raymond Odierno told CNN the remaining troops could move back to combat if there was "a complete failure of the security forces", or if political divisions split the Iraqi security forces. "But we don't see that happening," Odierno said.
The troops' departure has left many Iraqis apprehensive, with some predicting a rapid regression towards sectarian fighting.
Iyad Othman, a Fallujah policeman, said: "Now that they are gone for good, the situation will not continue to improve. They are surrendering the country to the Iranians."
In Baghdad the mood remains fearful. "It scares me to think that the Americans are leaving," said Umm Ali, 33, in the streets of Arasat, a well-to-do suburb. "If 144,000 soldiers could not control the situation here, how will things improve when there are only 50,000 here and they all stay in their camps?
| So, you like us after all? Did you perchance mention this to your government? |
| All Ali likes is the firepower and the expertise |
"Obama did not think about Iraq's interests when he pressed ahead with this withdrawal," she said. "It is a very bad decision, and so is the timing. He should wait for a new government to be formed, one that is strong and can establish -- then respect -- the rule of law."
| More bleating from concerned citizens follows at the link. |
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