We note continued nervousness about the US pull-back from urban areas in Iraq. Half a million Iraqi police officers and a quarter of a million Iraqi military are set to take over from 131,000 US military.

The Iraqis (in general) want the Americans off their streets but, equally, they fear a great deal of violence before their Government is in a position to restore full order. There will be problems – the Iraqi forces are still under-equipped. Insurgents and gangsters are moving into the partial vacuum already.

Yet another car bomb (in Mosul on June 29th) killed 10, including six Iraqis. There were separate attacks in Kirkuk and Ramadi. Yesterday, a bomb in Kirkuk killed 30 and wounded 40 just as the US was completing its scheduled withdrawal.

In fact, much of the fear is media-driven and the Government is doing its best to reassure the public. It has even declared a national holiday.

Whatever we think of the origins and aims of the war, it is probable that Iraq has passed a milestone after six years of misery. Albeit with a bit more misery on the way there, it is now on the path to becoming a more or less stable national democracy.

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