Iraq War News Updates -- June 1, 2009

U.S. Army Spc. Loren Combs checks her surroundings during Operation Asfah Ramlyah, a combined clearance operation in Sumer Al-Ghadier, in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad, May 28, 2009. Combs is a medic assigned to the Brigade Support Battalion's Company C. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea

Unease As Iraqis Prepare To Take Over In Cities -- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD – Three years ago, the U.S. thinned out its presence in Baghdad and Iraqi forces could not stem the tide of sectarian fighting. By the end of June, Iraq's forces will again be in control of their cities — and many Iraqis wonder if they are up to the task.

Publicly, the U.S. military insists it has full confidence in Iraq's army and police to cope with security challenges after the June 30 deadline for American combat troops to leave Baghdad, Mosul and other cities.

Privately, however, some U.S. and Iraqi officials acknowledge no one can say with certainty whether Iraq's police and soldiers can perform until they assume the responsibility.

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More News On Iraq

US: Unclear troop number remaining in Iraq cities -- AP
U.S. troops keeping a low profile in Basra -- Stars And Stripes
Audio tape denies capture of Iraq insurgent leader -- Yahoo News/AP
Iraq May civilian death toll lowest since 2003 -- Reuters
Iraqi casualties fall to record low in May -- L.A. Times
Police: 4 killed in bombing at Baghdad market -- AP
Bomb in Baghdad market kills 4 and wounds 13 -- Reuters
US deaths in Iraq rise sharply in May -- BBC
Iraq: 2 US soldiers die of non-combat injuries -- AP
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,306 -- AP
Children in Iraq still suffering psychologically from war trauma -- China View
Iraq minster arrested after plane was turned back -- The Telegraph
Guns, women and misappropriated funds: Iraqi Trade Minister charged -- Times Online
Scandal plagues former Iraq minister -- The National
Syria Looks to Iraq for an Economic Boost -- Washington Journal
Iraq's Kurdish region to export oil for first time -- AFP
Amnesty International Report 2009 on Iraq -- American Chronicle
Rehabilitating the Sons of Iraq -- Huffington Post
Iraq's Casualty Decline -- Wall Street Journal opinion