Happy National Sovereignity Day, Iraq: June 30, 2009

Ed Morrissey:

In Iraq, it’s already June 30th, and they’re celebrating National Sovereignty Day. The US has pulled back from Baghdad and other urban areas, leaving Iraq’s elected government and its security forces to maintain order and keep the peace. Iraq has erupted in celebration, and the government has declared it a national holiday:

Iraqi forces have assumed formal control of security in Baghdad and other cities after U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas. A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the midnight deadline passed for combat troops to pull back.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has declared a public holiday and proclaimed June 30 as “National Sovereignty Day.”

A senior adviser to al-Maliki says “the withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security.” Sadiq Al-Rikabi told The Associated Press on Tuesday that “we are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty.”

Well done, American military.