General David Petraeus has handed over military command of Iraq to General Ray Odierno, known for his aggressive tactics in the early stages of the war.
Odierno faces major challenges in stabilizing the country. Among them are the likely reduction of U.S. troops under the next president and the integration of pro-U.S. Sunni militias into the Iraqi police and military.
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Though levels of violence are down, many Iraqis resent the continued presence of U.S. troops and Petraeus warned that the apparent security gains over the past year remain fragile.
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