GEEZ, ITS LIKE WE'RE LETTING THE IRAQIS RUN THEIR OWN COUNTRY...

Just like we said we would...

Iraq's new leadership will take control of a rehabilitated Baghdad International Airport in the next few weeks. The hand-over is expected to open the door for the first normal commercial service since the U.S. invasion 15 months ago.

For the past year, American experts and Iraqi technicians have been working to repair and update the former Saddam International Airport...

Now one of three main terminals has been restored, improvements to the main runway and the radars are underway and Iraqi air traffic controllers returned to the tower two weeks ago. They are handling most of the roughly 50 cargo charter flights a day. There also is a daily charter passenger flight from Jordan.

In advance of the June 30 turnover of sovereignty to the Iraqi government, the U.S. military is handing back the airport's 40 service buildings and 35 acres of land.

By July 15, with the departure of the Army's 1st Armored Division, the commercial side of the airport will be Iraqi-run.