A recently released UN report while praising Òencouraging signs of progress,Ó and conceding Òalthough the overall security situation in Iraq has improved since 2008, the recent spike in indiscriminate and violent mass attacks continues to cause unacceptably high civilian casualties, demonstrating that important security challenges remain.Ó

The document adds, ÒAlthough there have been a demonstrable reduction in insurgent activity across the country in the past 12 months, there are still armed groups determined to incite sectarian violence and undermine public confidence in the governmentÕs capability to provide effective security,Ó

IraqÕs UN Ambassador Hamid a-Bayati in a Security Council statement said that the period, Ò between March and May 2009 witnessed a decline in the number of acts of violence by 76 percent as compared to the same period in 2008; an improvement confirming the development of the Iraqi security forces capability and the significant decline in the capabilities of terrorist groups.Ó

But in the nervous countdown to the handover, bombings have spiked and over a hundred innocent civilians have been killed or maimed. As Iraqi security forces carry the brunt of urban patrols and security, there could be a surge in militant attacks. U.S. troop numbers only marginally reduced from 142,000 in January to 133,000 today, still will be able to assist the Iraqi forces in emergencies, but with far less tactical flexibility.

But six years after the war, with the transfer of security responsibilities from the U.S. to the Iraqi forces thereÕs another deeper problem; political and ethnic reconciliation inside the country, especially between the Sunni Muslim minority and majority Shiites. The UN concedes Òthe reconciliation process remains delicate.Ó

Still there are positive signs; displaced or refugee families are returning home. Since early 2008, some 50,000 families, mostly internally displaced, came back to Iraq. Humanitarian assistance for refugees living abroad (mostly in Jordan and Syria) as well as those internally displaced in Iraq remains a major item for international donors.

Even today the World Food Program is providing aid for 630,000 internally displaced people inside the country.

Still the security situation precludes a wider operations for the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Given devastating bomb attacks on the UN Baghdad headquarters in 2003, the world body still has a very limited ÒfootprintÓ inside Iraq itself. The Report stresses, ÒThe recovery of Iraq is entering a different phaseÉas the security situation improves, the United Nations will continue to strive to expand its presence and activities in Iraq consistent with the needs of Iraq.Ó The report warns poignantly ÒHowever Iraq remains a challenging operating environment, and the safety and security of United Nations personnelÓ remains a priority.

IraqÕs semblance of security has come at a very high price in American blood, sweat, tears and treasure. It evolved in no small part to the success of the military surge, the strategy of General David Petraeus, and to the enduring sacrifices of the multi-national coalition forces; Americans, British, Australians, Poles and two dozen other countries who did not blink nor falter when the insurgency was at its zenith. It equally rested with the Bush AdministrationÕs largely unpopular political commitment to Iraq, and the Obama AdministrationÕs stoic acceptance of the need to go slow with troop withdrawals.

As Ambassador al-Bayti told delegates, ÒNational reconciliation remains a top priority for my government.Ó That priority should extend to the U.S. Congressional Democrats as well.