Iraq- Crunch time

Iraq has not been dominating the news recently as it once did. Bombings in the citys are almost at a manageable level if indeed you can ever accept levels of bombings. However I think this period of calm is about to come to an end, at the end of this month an agreement comes into effect that means US troops must evacuate all City's Town's and Village's. this will result I'm sure in Secterian violence flaring up again, Though it has never fully gone away the casualty numbers have been steadily declining over the last 12 Months. General Patreus's much talked about Surge appears to have worked, in May there were 124 deaths while that sounds a horrendous amount, in the context of Iraq it is actually quite low and falling. The next 3/6 months are crucial in determining the future of Iraq if the Iraqi forces are able to keep a lid on things then there is hope that Shia and Sunni may again co-exist. But I fear to much blood has been spilt for there to be an easy transition. This without the added pressure of outside influences, IE Iran who have much to gain from an unstable Iraq. After being opressed for so long under Saddam the Shia are Reluctant to give up top dog status and share power with their Sunni Countrymen. Only time will tell if Iraq is to recover from the last 6 years, US troops will be stationed in that Country for the foreseeable future in a watchdog role, and will continue training Iraqi forces. only being called in to assist if the Government requests it. I hope that a peaceful co-existence can be achieved.