From the White House to Baghdad to Humboldt County, the prevailing response to the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities was optimism -- cautious optimism.

”This is a major step forward, and indeed all of the bases that were specified for providing security for the populace have in fact been turned over here in Baghdad,” said Allan Dollison, a Humboldt County deputy district attorney currently serving as a major with the Army's 425 Civil Affairs Battalion in Baghdad, in an e-mail to the Times-Standard.

But, Dollison warned that the violence in Baghdad and elsewhere will not stop immediately, a point that was belied by reports of at least 33 people dying in car bomb in Kirkuk Tuesday.

President Barack Obama had a similar response, declaring that “Iraq's future is in the hands of its own people,” but warning of more violence in the days to come.

Dollison said it's also important to remember that Tuesday's milestone was the culmination of five months of a phased transition of security operations to Iraqis. Still, Dollison said Tuesday represents an important milestone.

”The Iraqis were enormously proud today, and hopeful for the future,” he wrote. “They even had a parade showcasing their military prowess.”

But, Dollison cautioned that Tuesday's milestone, while historic, is just one of a series of steps left to be taken.

”... Eventually an elimination of the blast-walls

and checkpoints manned by Iraqi forces will make the biggest difference for the average Iraqi resident of Baghdad,” Dollison wrote. “Those actions will not occur for some time, as the checkpoints are vitally necessary to prevent the terrorists with suicide bombs from making specific attacks.”

Having returned home from his deployment in Iraq in January 2006, Travis Holt of Veterans Enrollment Transition Services at Humboldt State University, also exhibited cautious optimism.

”I just hope we handle this delicately,” he said, adding that he thinks there is a possibility that U.S. troops leaving completely will result in a vacuum of power.

Despite a possible upswing in violence, Veterans for Peace coordinating committee member Rob Hepburn said he thinks Tuesday's troop withdrawal is the right thing to do.

”Even though there's going to be violence, it will be better in the long term for Iraq and the U.S.,” he said. “I just hope the Obama administration does not replace the war in Iraq with a major war in Afghanistan because that would be a big mistake.”

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq in March 2003, at least 4,322 service members have died, according to the Associated Press count. In that same time, more than 30,000 have been wounded in hostile action, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Obama seemed optimistic Tuesday that those casualties were part of an effort that will eventually result in a sovereign, stable Iraq.

”The future belongs to those who build, not to those who destroy,” he said, before warning that the fight for stability in Iraq is not over. “Make no mistake, there will be difficult days ahead.”

Dollison said that, overall, U.S. troops are glad to transition their security mission to the Iraqis.

”I would say the Iraqis are the most prepared today than they have ever been before,” Dollison wrote. “We will still assist them with our intelligence capabilities, in tracking down networks of terrorist groups that plan to disrupt a peaceful transition of Iraq.”

Times-Standard staff writers Thadeus Greenson, Donna Tam and Allison White contributed to this report.