ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL REPORT

Iraq Journals

Glimpses of life in a war-torn country by GNS national security correspondent John Yaukey and photo director Jeff Franko.

Multimedia

Interactive timeline, image gallery

Recall key dates, browse defining photos from six weeks of combat in Iraq. (Requires Flash)

Recent headlines

General: Iraqi troops improve

January 26, 2005

Parties waging a polite battle to control Najaf

January 25, 2005

In Iraq, the question is: To vote or not to vote

January 25, 2005

Politics popular in Shiite areas

January 20, 2005

Also on the Web

Dispatches from Iraq

Special coverage and photo galleries of American troops serving in Iraq from The Honolulu Advertiser.

Iraq In-Depth

Take an interactive tour of Saddam's hide-out and capture at USATODAY.com's Iraq home page.

GNS Archive

Click here to browse more than 1,000 Iraq war news stories from the front lines and the home front.

Thursday, June 24

Who will be in charge of security?

By Gannett News Service

There is virtually unanimous agreement that the run-up to the January elections in Iraq will see significant spikes in violence.

So who will command the counterinsurgency - Iraqi leaders or U.S. generals?

That's not clear.

Under the sovereignty agreement, Iraqi leaders will largely be in charge of security operations.

That means they will have the power to veto major operations like the Marine mission recently in Fallujah, where four American contract workers were killed and burned.

That said, U.S. and coalition forces will be able to take ``all necessary measures'' to ensure their own security if threatened or attacked.

The Pentagon plans to keep 138,000 U.S. forces in Iraq indefinitely, 25,000 more than was anticipating it would need before the insurgency swelled in April, killing 137 troops.

How long those troops remain is an open question.

Iraq's elected leadership might demand that they leave in 2006 when their security mandate expires.

Or they could stay on for years backing up Iraqi forces.

		E-mail feedback ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL REPORT Gannett News Service's continuing coverage of the war in Iraq Iraq journals GNS correspondent John Yaukey and photo chief Jeff Franko traveled to Iraq in March. Browse their word and photo journals. Iraq Journals Glimpses of life in a war-torn country by GNS national security correspondent John Yaukey and photo director Jeff Franko. Multimedia Interactive timeline, image gallery Recall key dates, browse defining photos from six weeks of combat in Iraq. (Requires Flash) Recent headlines General: Iraqi troops improve January 26, 2005 Parties waging a polite battle to control Najaf January 25, 2005 In Iraq, the question is: To vote or not to vote January 25, 2005 Politics popular in Shiite areas January 20, 2005 Also on the Web Dispatches from Iraq Special coverage and photo galleries of American troops serving in Iraq from The Honolulu Advertiser. Iraq In-Depth Take an interactive tour of Saddam's hide-out and capture at USATODAY.com's Iraq home page. GNS Archive Click here to browse more than 1,000 Iraq war news stories from the front lines and the home front. Thursday, June 24 Who will be in charge of security? By Gannett News Service There is virtually unanimous agreement that the run-up to the January elections in Iraq will see significant spikes in violence. So who will command the counterinsurgency - Iraqi leaders or U.S. generals? That's not clear. Under the sovereignty agreement, Iraqi leaders will largely be in charge of security operations. That means they will have the power to veto major operations like the Marine mission recently in Fallujah, where four American contract workers were killed and burned. That said, U.S. and coalition forces will be able to take ``all necessary measures'' to ensure their own security if threatened or attacked. The Pentagon plans to keep 138,000 U.S. forces in Iraq indefinitely, 25,000 more than was anticipating it would need before the insurgency swelled in April, killing 137 troops. How long those troops remain is an open question. Iraq's elected leadership might demand that they leave in 2006 when their security mandate expires. Or they could stay on for years backing up Iraqi forces. © 2004, Gannett News Service