Iraq update January 8, 2003

A major milestone in Anbar province today. From MNF-I - Giant Step Forward: Iraqi Police Assume Security Mission in Anbar Province City

• COMMAND OUTPOST BAGHDADI — How many Marines does it take to secure Baghdadi? Last year, it took an entire company. Then, as the situation improved, that number dropped to a platoon. And now, with the onset of 2008, the grand total is zero.

Bill Roggio at The Long War Journal is reporting Operation Phantom Phoenix targets al Qaeda havens. Al Qaeda safe havens all over Iraq are the target. Petraeus brings the hammer down.

• Despite the recent success in reducing the violence in Iraq, the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq and the Shia extremist terror groups is not over. Coalition and Iraqi forces have launched Operation Phantom Phoenix, a new operation targeting the terror groups throughout Iraq.

And, on the political view of Iraq we have the Washington Post with See No Good

• Why do the Democratic candidates refuse to acknowledge progress in Iraq?