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Marines and Iraqi soldiers both performed close-order drill during the ?battle space? change over ceremony in Habbaniyah, Thursday Aug. 31. ?The more battle space we give (the Iraqis)? the more of this country they?re taking over, so it gives a chance to start reducing the amounts of troops we have in these areas,? said Chief Warrant Officer James L. Duncan, 1st Iraqi Military Transition Team engineering advisor. Maj. General Richard C. Zilmer, commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd.), said during his speech ?it is an honor to be here to represent the partnership that we (Iraqis and the U.S.) represent together, and having had the honor to watch the great progress and the great work that has been performed by the 1st division (Iraqi Army) and the 3rd brigade (Iraqi Army), there is no doubt that we will be successful.?