FREEING UP TROOPS FOR SYRIA:

Iraqis take over danger zone as Americans start the big exodus: Morale is high among ill-equipped forces since the election (Anthony Loyd, 2/11/05, Times of London)

HOT on the heels of Iraq’s election, American forces have begun discreetly withdrawing from one of the country’s worst combat zones, leaving it in the hands of Iraqi security forces.

Starting five days ago, two Iraqi battalions began assuming control of an infamous area of inner Baghdad surrounding Haifa Street that has become a battle zone between insurgents and coalition forces. The handover should be completed within another week.

The move is the first step in a much broader post-election plan to scale back the US military presence in towns across rebellious central Iraq, leaving behind “advisers” to help the Iraqi Army to take over security duties.

If it works, British and American troops can look forward to a relatively swift exit from Iraq.