Iraq is once again a sovereign nation. In a surprise move, the United States handed over power to the new, interim government in Baghdad two days early. The handover goes a long way toward wiping the slate clean: The 14-month occupation is officially over, and Iraqis can now say that they are in control of their own lives.
That does not mean that the world can turn its back on Iraq, however. Help is needed now more than ever. Friends of Iraq must help, both individually and collectively, through the United Nations and other international organizations. Assistance will go a long way not only toward stabilizing Iraq and the entire Middle East, but toward resuscitating the U.N., which has been badly damaged by this entire affair.
The U.S. was expected to hand power to a government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on July 1. Instead, the exchange took place in a small ceremony Monday that was attended by Mr. L. Paul Bremer (Coalition Provisional Authority head), Mr. Allawi, President Ghazi al-Yawer and a handful of Iraqi and CPA officials. The surprise move was aimed at frustrating guerrillas and others who had threatened to attack any large ceremony. As late as last weekend, security concerns kept officials from providing details on the ceremony.