So, Kate ... how's that "handover" going?

Ah, the perky optimism of January 2007:

President's Address to the Nation

... To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November.

Which was reported with breathless excitement by the usual credulous, mouth-breathing suspects:

"One by one, the 18 provinces of Iraq are being turned over to the Iraqis"

Posted by Kate at May 22, 2007 3:48 PM

Which, sadly, started to run into a few problems:

U.S. President George W. Bush predicted in January that Iraq would assume control all of its provinces by November, but the target date has slipped repeatedly, highlighting the difficulties in developing Iraqi police forces and the slow pace of political progress.

No problem, though ... a new year, a renewed sense of optimism:

Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle: January 2008 Update
By DJ ElliottJanuary 4, 2008 12:34 PM

... On December 15, the ninth of 18 Iraqi provinces transferred to Iraqi control. Basrah marked the halfway point in the turnover of Iraqi provinces and a major shift in Iraqi forces to cover the southern provinces. According to previous reporting, Ninewa Province is due to transfer to Iraqi control in the February or March timeframe and Anbar is speculated to transfer in the April or May timeframe. Baghdad Province is planned for Provincial Iraqi Control in August 2008. Baghdad is expected to be the last province to transfer to Iraqi control.

Or maybe not:

Minister Sees Need for U.S. Help in Iraq Until 2018

By THOM SHANKER
Published: January 15, 2008

FORT MONROE, Va. — The Iraqi defense minister said Monday that his nation would not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until 2012, nor be able on its own to defend Iraq’s borders from external threat until at least 2018.

In unrelated news, Kate has some new pictures of thermometers.