While Iraqis went about their normal daily business, al-Maliki declared the pullback a victory for the country and heaped lavish praise on Iraq's forces but made no mention of the U.S. role in reducing violence since 2007.

Iraq's security forces, which number 650,000, have spent years in the shadow of their better equipped and more disciplined U.S. mentors, learning counterinsurgency tactics, intelligence gathering techniques and combat skills.

But the Iraqis continue to struggle with logistics and professional conduct. It is not uncommon to see soldiers at checkpoints speaking on their mobile phones or dozing off while sitting aside in the shade.

They also lack reliable networks for fuel distribution, equipment repairs and salary payments. Chipping away at the public's confidence in their abilities is the adoption by some of the younger soldiers of an "American look" — dark, wraparound sunglasses, bandanas and knee and elbow pads — accessories Iraqis see as alien to their military traditions.

Many Iraqis also see hints of sectarian bias in the Shiite-dominated security forces, particularly the national police, and a disregard for human rights. There have been numerous reports in recent weeks about the torture of detainees in jails run by Iraq's interior ministry, which oversees the police, but the government insists that offenders risk the full weight of the law.

"They are not trusted by people," said Haidar Mohammed, a 28-year-old government employee from eastern Baghdad. "Many are not professional soldiers, their loyalty is to their political parties."

Nothing of substance has changed in Baghdad since June 30, except that thousands of additional Iraqi troops and police have deployed across the city, backed in potential troublespots with tanks and armored vehicles. The lines at some of the hundreds of checkpoints have grown longer, possibly because of more thorough checks.

The city is no longer constantly buzzed by low-flying American helicopters and there were no American soldiers in sight during several tours of the city over the past few days.

However, U.S. jet fighters flying at high altitude occasionally scream across the Baghdad sky.

Al-Maliki's confidence in his security forces appears to be unwavering, but many see that vote of confidence to be linked to his political ambitions. Parliamentary elections are due in January and his chances for a second term in office depend heavily on whether recent security gains endure and the timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces is adhered to, with all combat U.S. forces out of the country by August 2010 and the rest by the end of 2011.

His failure to publicly thank the Americans in his June 30 address or mention that some American troops are staying behind in Baghdad and other cities as advisers and trainers are clearly designed to project a politically beneficial image of himself as a nationalist leader who oversaw the growth and improvement of Iraq's armed forces.

"Al-Maliki is clearly trying to take advantage of the June 30 withdrawal so he and his party improve their chances in the elections," said Hassan Raheem, a 46-year-old Baghdad businessman.