CAMP VICTORY, Iraq —

U.S. General Raymond Odierno took command of U.S.-led forces in Iraq from David Petraeus on Tuesday, warning that security gains in the country were “fragile and reversible.”

Petraeus, the general credited with pulling Iraq back from all-out civil war, handed over control of the 146,000-strong force at a ceremony at a former Saddam Hussein-era palace turned U.S. base near Baghdad airport.

But Odierno , a towering four-star general, said he was aware of the tough task ahead despite a dramatic fall in violence to four-year lows attributed to a “surge” strategy.

“Iraq is now a different country from the one I had seen first. However, we must realize that these gains are fragile and reversible,” he said.

On the eve of the transfer, Odierno was given a powerful reminder of the violence when a series of bomb blasts killed at least 34 people.

“He knows we are at a pivotal moment—where progress remains fragile and caution should be the order of the day,” U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at the ceremony attended also by top Iraqi officials.

“And as we proceed further into the endgame here, I am sure he will make tough but necessary decisions to protect our national interest.”

Odierno, Petraeus’s former deputy, said the authorities in Baghad will have to shoulder more responsibility for security.

“Time is changing. Iraq is going to take more responsibility. The environment has changed. What I hope to see is a change from military to political, economic and diplomatic strategy,” he told reporters.

Petraeus becomes the new chief of Central Command in charge of the U.S. military’s biggest challenges—Iraq, an expanding campaign in Afghanistan, an al-Qaida revival in Pakistan and saber-rattling by Iran.

He said Odierno was the “perfect man for the job.”

On Wednesday, Petraeus will meet U.S. President George W Bush and discuss his new duties.

“It’s an appropriate time to meet with him as he takes on the challenges of the broader Middle East,” Gordon Johndroe, White House spokesman, said.

Iraq was spiraling into all-out civil war when Petraeus, 55, took charge in February 2007, four years after Saddam was toppled by U.S. invading forces.

But since late 2007, violence has fallen, and much of the credit has gone to the counter-insurgency strategies of Petraeus, whom Gates said had taken command when “darkness had descended on this land.”

“Merchants of chaos were gaining strength. Death was commonplace. Around the world, questions mounted about whether a new strategy—or any strategy, for that matter—could make a real difference.”

“You have dealt enemies of the United States and Iraq a tremendous, if not mortal blow. History will regard you as one of our nation’s great battle captains.”

Petraeus oversaw the surge, but it was Odierno who first proposed it in December 2006 to a resistant Pentagon, setting the stage for what would become a pivotal turn in the unpopular war.

Odierno, a hulking artillery man criticized for running roughshod over civilians during his first tour to Iraq in 2003-2004, implemented the “surge” as corps commander from December 2006 to March 2008.

He carried out the detailed campaign that poured U.S. troops into Baghdad, cleared al-Qaida insurgents from havens surrounding the capital, and targeted Shiite extremists.

Gates said the current mission was in “transition” phase as troop numbers shrink and more provinces are handed to Iraqi control.

“The challenge for General Odierno is how do we work with the Iraqis to preserve the gains that have already been achieved, and expand upon them even as the number of U.S. forces are shrinking,” Gates said.

Iraq has taken over handling of security in 11 of its 18 provinces and plans to add a couple more by end of 2008.

Odierno has argued consistently against sharp cutbacks in force levels in Iraq, which is negotiating a security pact with Washington to determine troop levels after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

The U.S. force will shrink by about 8,000 troops by January, when Bush leaves office, and pressure for further reductions is intensifying as attention shifts to Afghanistan.

Odierno said this cut “will be automatically replaced by Iraqi forces,” adding further reductions would be in consultation with Baghdad.

He said Iraq’s delayed provincial election and next year’s national election were “milestones” that would determine the nation’s long term viability.

Wire reports

10 Comments

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  adaydream at 08:13 AM JST - 17th September

  Congradulations on your new post.

  Get the Iraqi Army and Police trained and bring the troops home.

  And new deployments go to Afghanistan not Iraq. < :-)

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  OgieDoggie at 08:21 AM JST - 17th September

  warning that security gains in the country were “fragile and reversible.”

  I finally think we have a REAL General in Iraq. Does anyone remember Vietnam and a little quarter back sneek that the North Vietnamse Army did to us during Tet of 1968 when Gen. Westmoreland told us that Vietnam was 80 percent under our control. well this new general is trying to warn everyone that this could happen in Iraq.

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  rjd_jr at 08:24 AM JST - 17th September

  I agree, get the I.A. and police, over 5 years after the fact. Tell them no more handouts, no more dragging butt, get with the program. Bring the troops home.

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  smithinjapan at 09:20 AM JST - 17th September

  You know... when a person starts a new job his or her opening speech should not include, "You know, I may well fail, and things may well get worse... so uh, just wanted to let you know that I may be completely ineffective," is not the best indicator that he or she will do a good job.

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  SushiSake3 at 09:49 AM JST - 17th September

  Why aren't the National Guard units that have been missappropriated to Iraq back Stateside fighting the floods and helping Americans?

  Oh yeah, that's right - the president who sent them to Iraq cares far more about Iraqis.....Bring the troops home - that's the least they deserve.

  Let them honor the memories of their dead mates by not getting any more soldiers needlessly killed for Halliburton and the defense companies.

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  WilliB at 12:09 PM JST - 17th September

  " But since late 2007, violence has fallen, and much of the credit has gone to the counter-insurgency strategies of Petraeus "

  Blah! He has been paying off the Sunnis militias, and pressuring the Shiite government to leave the Sunnis alone. As soon as the US stops babysitting the place, the house of cards will collapse, and the islamic power struggle continue. The Shiites have the number and support from Iran, and thus Al Quaida will be back to "help" the Sunnis.

  But yes, lets not forget: Obama has already promised that he will be back in Iraq as soon as Al Quaida is back. So, look forward to the most expenseive U-turn in history.

• 

  Madverts at 04:10 PM JST - 17th September

  "Mission Accomplished"

• 

  SuperLib at 01:56 AM JST - 18th September

  Iraq was spiraling into all-out civil war when Petraeus, 55, took charge in February 2007

  I think everyone will agree, war supporters and non-war supporters alike, when I say, "Thank God."

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  adaydream at 02:09 AM JST - 18th September

  Hell, after 4 years of complete stupidity and ignorance in Iraq, Petraeus was a breath of fresh air.

  This war that has been diverted by george bush and his equally sub-standard henchmen who were directing the actions on the ground in Iraq.

  It never should have been started to begin with.

  But the absolute blunders, innocent deaths 100,000s, the total destruction of a country, millions of refuges. Somebody had to go into Iraq sooner or later that didn't have their head completely up their butt. Somebody that actually understood war. And that definately wasn't bush, cheney, rice, rumpsfeld or any of the other war-mongers. < :-)

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  adaydream at 02:16 AM JST - 18th September

  Plus, the commanders have been asking for more troops to fight the war that george bush started. It wasn't until Petraeus went to Iraq did they get the troops close to what they have been begging for.

  Why did it take over 4 years to support the fighters like they should have from the beginning.

  I'm hoping that General Odierno gets the Iraqi Army and Police trained and get our troops home. < :-)

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