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Much of the new violence is attributed not to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the homegrown group that American intelligence says is led by foreigners, but to more local insurgent groups, including the Mujahedeen Army, which claimed responsibility for killing the three American reconstruction officials, and the Islamic Army of Iraq. Both groups claim to be part of the “patriotic resistance,” made up of Iraqis only.

Odierno said that he is still "absolutely committed" to leaving all urban areas on schedule but added that a number of troops will remain in Iraqi cities as advisers and trainers to work with Iraqi security forces. He did not specify how many troops would remain or where they would be based.

“Foreign forces have to withdraw from the cities totally,” said Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. “This is a victory that should be celebrated in feasts and festivals.”

US reliance on contractors has grown to "unprecedented proportions," according to the bipartisan commission, established by Congress last year. More than 240,000 private sector employees are supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thousands more work for the State Department and Agency for International Development.

BAGHDAD - The US and Iraqi militaries have tentatively agreed to keep open a joint base on the edge of Baghdad's Shi'ite slum of Sadr City, maintaining an American presence in a strategic area even after the June 30 deadline for US combat troops to pull out of the capital.

It is doubts like those that have made the Americans realize that they must prove to Iraqis that they will honor the terms of the security agreement they hashed out in November, demanding withdrawal of combat troops from the cities by the end of this month, and complete military withdrawal by the end of 2011.

All occupations eventually end. When this one does, history's narratives will be shaped by the cacophony it wrought -- the carnage unleashed by the U.S.-led invasion that threatened Iraq's notion of itself as a country and that will haunt generations to come.

The psychic toll of this foolish and apparently endless war has been profound since day one. And the nation’s willful denial of that toll has been just as profound.

The deadline, the first of three that chart the withdrawal of U.S. troops, will test Iraqi forces and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's assertion that his government stands ready to assume primary control over security. The Iraqi government insisted on the deadlines last year during the negotiation of a security agreement.

Mr. Murtha also cautioned the administration about taking any steps that would prolong the operations in Iraq. “I can see a lot of consternation with the Democrats because a lot of them felt that the election was all about getting out,” he said.