Maysan 5, originally uploaded by david_axe.

Gen. Kurt Cichowski, deputy chief of staff for strategy, plans and assessment for the Multi-National Force in Iraq, briefed bloggers this morning on the handover of the Maysan province in southern Iraq tomorrow. The transfer marks the fourth time since last July that a province has been turned over to the Iraqi government.

The transfer of Maysan is significant because the it borders Iran and Muqtada al-Sadr has had strong ties to the province. It is heavily Shiite. Tomorrow’s ceremony, Cichowski said, will resemble a Fourth of July celebration in the United States, with much pomp and excitement.

Cichowski expressed hope that Maysan would continue to make progress, just as the three other provinces have following their transfers. Violence in those three provinces — Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Najaf — is down 20%. And although the three make up a combined 11% of the population, they account for 0.2% of all violence in Iraq.

Others joining me on the call included Fausta Wertz, Mark Finkelstein of NewsBusters, Brian Faughnan of the Weekly Standard, and McQ of QandO.