HOW I'D LOVE TO SEE THIS WORK.

U.S. soldiers withdrew Friday from a police station in this tense western Iraqi town after Iraqi officers complained that the American presence put them at risk, the head of the town's police force told The Associated Press.

Col. Jalal Sabri said the Americans left the station Friday morning. The U.S. military would not confirm his account.

Police in the town said they were willing to work with the Americans, but did not want them using the station as a base, fearing it would make the Iraqi officers the target of pro-Saddam insurgents.

"We feel more comfortable because of this withdrawal. We can solve the problems here better than the Americans and communicate better with the people,'' Sabri said.

"We have told the Americans many times that we have the capability. We asked them to give us a chance and see our work. If they don't like how we perform, they can come back.''

Fair enough. Let's try it.