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Two years ago, Anbar Province was the most lethal place for American forces in Iraq. A U.S. marine or soldier died in the province nearly every day, and the provincial capital, Ramadi, was a moonscape of rubble and ruins. Islamic extremists controlled large pieces of territory, with some so ferocious in their views that they did not even allow the baking of bread.</p>
<p>On Monday, U.S. commanders formally returned responsibility for keeping order in Anbar Province, once the heartland of the Sunni insurgency, to the Iraqi Army and police. The ceremony, including a parade on a freshly paved street, capped one of the most significant turnabouts in the country since the war began five and a half years ago.</p>
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<p>[U.S</a>. hands back security of Anbar Province - International Herald Tribune](<a href=“The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos ”>The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos )</p>
<p>This is simply great news! Let’s hope we can continue down this path.</p>
<p>More good news. Maybe we will be able to reduce forces in Baghdad as well.</p>
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General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, said declining violence in Baghdad raised the possibility that American combat troops could leave the capital by next summer.</p>
<p>Asked in an interview with the Financial Times whether it was feasible that US combat forces could leave Baghdad by July, he said: Conditions permitting, yeah.
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<p>[FT.com </a> / World - US says troops could quit Baghdad soon](<a href=“US says troops could quit Baghdad soon ”>US says troops could quit Baghdad soon )</p>
<p>Balkanizing worked for Clinton. The Wall works for Israel. Ethnic territories works in Georgia. Why shouldn’t these programs work for Iraqi? Besides, we have to give up something inorder to bring home troops before Nov.</p>