Officials say U.S. casualties down

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. casualties are at their lowest level since 2003 and Iraqi security forces are overseeing most of the war-torn country, military sources say.

Recent progress in Iraq has prompted questions as to whether the Iraqi war is ending, The Baltimore Sun reported Thursday.

"Our ticket out of here was to develop Iraqi security forces. That has been accomplished," said U.S. Maj. Gen. John Kelly, who commands 25,000 Marines and sailors in Iraq's Anbar province.

"On a day-to-day basis, very seldom do they actually need us," he said of the Iraqi army and police forces.

Kelly said in a telephone interview that the United States is "in the last 10 yards" of the war, adding that "economic development and jobs" can bring the war to an end.

"I believe I could walk out of here tomorrow and these guys would do OK," he said of the Iraqi forces in Anbar province.