IRAQ – THE White House on Tuesday called on Iraq’s leaders to show a ‘sense of urgency’ to form a new government, still elusive after March elections failed to produce an outright winner, but said progress was being made. ‘Iraq should move forward with a sense of urgency,’ White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters aboard Air Force One.

After seven years of a U.S. military presence in Iraq, the future of that country’s security and future U.S. involvement remain ambiguous. But what things can be measured? How is Iraq’s GDP? Or its electricity generation? NPR’s Robert Siegel talks to Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution about what can be quantified in Iraq.

Iraq’s prime minister hailed the end of American combat operations Tuesday, saying Iraq is now an independent, sovereign country on equal footing with the U.S.

Iraq’s prime minister said the end of U.S. combat operations on Tuesday restored Iraq’s sovereignty and meant it stood as an equal to the United States, despite political deadlock and persistent violence.

Source: Reuters BAGHDAD, Aug 31 (Reuters) – Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday Iraq had gained independence with the end of U.S. combat operations and that its security forces would now deal with …