[Hoot Gibson]

The short answer is, "No, all combat troops are not out of Iraq." Obama and the Democrats are just desperately trying to take credit for some kind of success before the November elections. The problem is that our enemies are not cooperating in the Democrats' reelection campaign.

What is happening in Iraq is exactly what Bush warned would happen if we announced a firm timetable for withdrawal of troops.

[INDENT]

Despite formal combat end, US joins Baghdad battle

Days after the U.S. officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq's ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

It was the first exchange of fire involving U.S. troops in Baghdad since the Aug. 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission, and it showed that American troops remaining in the country are still being drawn into the fighting. It is what any sensible person could have predicted would happen.

The attack also made plain the kind of lapses in security that have left Iraqis wary of the U.S. drawdown and distrustful of the ability of Iraqi forces now taking up ultimate responsibility for protecting the country.

[/INDENT]