What the Handover Means for the Iraqis

U.S. administrator Paul Bremer is out and Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is now in control. U.S. officials hope the transfer of sovereignty back to the Iraqis will help take the steam out of the insurgency.

The challenges for the new government are enormous and the future is uncertain. Its major tasks will be to prepare for the elections by next January, handle the day-to-day running of the country, and work with the U.S.-led mulitnational forces which is responsible for security.

Click the "Listen" link to hear about the transfer of power and consequences for Iraq, the United States, and the world.

Guests:

Mowaffak al-Rubaie, national security adviser, Iraq interim government

Thanassis Cambanis, correspondent for The Boston Globe

Barry Posen, professor of political science, MIT

Fawaz Gerges, professor of international affairs and Middle Eastern studies, Sarah Lawrence College