Baghdad: The US Army took over the post-war civil arrangement of Iraq from the
Marines on April 19, inheriting a daunting task plagued by confusion and public
animosity towards the US occupation.
By first light, the heavy Marine presence had completely vanished from Baghdad's
streets and was replaced by small numbers of soldiers from the army's Third Infantry
Division (3ID) deployed at street corners.
Elements of the Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) had also moved into the capital while
the 101st Airborne remained at the international airport.
"We took over at about 3:00 am (0430 IST) from the Marines and right now we're
trying to get a handle on what they've already figured out," Staff Sergeant Nicholas
King said.
Along the cordon outside the Palestine and Sheraton Hotels where the Marines were
based, the 3ID had positioned one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and one Abrams tank on
each corner as about 100 Iraqi civilians protested the US occupation.
At the main entrance, one Iraqi man berated the troops, yelling, "Get out and leave
Iraqi oil alone." The guard stood stony-faced, feigning indifference.
