The new US commander in Iraq warned today that the country was "doomed to continued violence and civil strife" if American and Iraqi forces did not work together to improve security.
General David Petraeus took command of the 135,000-strong US force, declaring "we will have to share the burdens and move forward together. If we can do that and if we can help the people of Iraq, the prospects of success are good.
"Failing that, Iraq will be doomed to continued violence and civil strife." Standing under a crystal chandelier that spanned 30 feet of the ceiling in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, Petraeus said the task before him was "exceedingly challenging".
"The stakes are very high. The way ahead will be hard, and there undoubtedly will be many tough days. But as I recently told members of the US Senate, hard is not hopeless."
Mr Petraeus, who has served two previous tours in Iraq, takes over from General George Casey who becomes Army chief of staff.
In a letter to US troops in Iraq, Petraeus said "in the end, Iraqis will decide the outcome of this struggle. Our task is to help them gain the time they need to save their country".
The change in command was part of US President George Bush's overhaul of Iraq policy that includes deployment, by the end of May, of 21,500 additional American forces in Iraq, most of them in Baghdad.
"Our job in the months ahead...will be to improve security so that the Iraqi government can resolve the tough issues it faces, and so that the economy and basic services can be improved," Petraeus said. "These tasks are achievable. This mission is doable."
The Princeton-educated general takes command at a time when the Bush administration has focused on Iran as a key factor in the turmoil in Iraq.
National security officials in Washington and Iraq have worked for weeks on a presentation intended to provide evidence for the administration's claims of what they say are Iran's meddlesome and deadly activities. US officials in Baghdad scheduled a briefing for reporters tomorrow that was expected to detail evidence about Iranian involvement.