It was a surprise move and a smart move Monday morning when the U.S. quickly and quietly handed power over to the Iraqis two days ahead of schedule.

The early and still largely ceremonial handover had some wide-eyed TV news anchors confused at 2 in the morning but also may have prevented violent attacks from insurgents who, like the rest of the world, knew the June 30 date had been talked about for months.

&uot;Let freedom reign&uot; was President Bush’s simple message about the handover.

It is, in many ways, a gesture to Iraq, as the United States military remains in the country and still has a close relationship with the new leadership.

But this symbolic move will have great impact on what happens in Iraq in the future. The Iraqi people now have their own sovereign government again, one that can fan the flames of democracy in the Middle East.

By no means does this diminish the fact that we have a long, tough road ahead, and we still have American soldiers who are in danger every day and more who will be joining them &045; including, possibly, members of the 155th from Natchez.

Security remains a major issue, but NATO is to begin working with Iraqi forces to improve its police force.

The handover of power is one of many steps toward true democracy in Iraq, toward a new day for its people so long under the thumb of a ruthless dictator.

The U.S. and Iraq were smart to make that move quickly and quietly, before insurgents could ruin a historic day.