Petraeus To Leave Behind A Very DFifferent Iraq

Commander in Iraq General David Petraeus speaks during a change in command ceremony of Iraq's Multi-National Security Transition Command and the NATO training mission in Baghdad July 3, 2008. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

From Reuters:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - When General David Petraeus took over as U.S. military commander in Iraq in February 2007, the country was on the brink of all-out civil war.

Car bombs rocked Baghdad every day -- including 42 alone during the month he assumed command.

But backed by 30,000 extra U.S. soldiers, Petraeus implemented a new counterinsurgency strategy that combined with other factors helped drag Iraq back from the abyss.

Petraeus hands control of U.S. forces in Iraq to Lieutenant-General Ray Odierno, on Tuesday. Odierno, who served as number 2 U.S. commander in Iraq for 15 months until February, will be promoted to full general on the day of the handover.

Petraeus leaves behind a very different Iraq. Violence has dropped to levels not seen since early 2004 and Iraqi officials now eagerly talk about drumming up foreign investment.

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My Comment: A fair and accurate assessment.