The dress code for the handover of American power in Iraq from Gen. David Petraeus to Gen. Ray Odierno was different today than it had been when Petraeus took the job 19 months ago. For reporters riding the armored military bus – the "Rhino" – to the ceremony, helmets and bullet-proof vests were optional. Last year, amid the anarchic sectarian violence and frequent deadly attacks on U.S. forces, protective gear was a must, even with the armor, on the ride down the dangerous airport road to the American military headquarters west of Baghdad. In February 2007, when Gen. George Casey handed off command to Petraeus, 81 U.S. troops died. Last month, 23 American soldiers were killed. Attacks are now at a four-year low and Iraqi deaths have also dropped steeply.

Under the enormous glass chandelier in an atrium of one of Saddam Hussein's old palaces, the home of the U.S. command, today's ceremony was formal and full of the usual pomp; a military band, color guards, anthems and the ritualized hand off of military banners from Petraeus, who ascends to command U.S. troops throughout the Middle East, to Odierno, now in his third major Iraqi command. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates came along to praise both men.

But the goals for Odierno's term remain tempered by reality. While some Americans talk about victory in Iraq, American commanders steer clear of that value-laden term and generally come back to earth in terms that are more about salvaging an acceptable end to a war that has taken more lives and years than they expected when it started. There was little talk of democracy in Iraq, let alone throughout the Middle East, and a lot of talk about lost comrades. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullin stretched things the most, claiming that Iraqi reconciliation had "begun to blossom," something most Iraqis would dispute bitterly. But Petraeus' bottom line was measured. He repeated his promise last year that the war in Iraq was "hard but not hopeless" and said U.S. troops have turned it now into "hard but hopeful."

Odierno was even more cautious. In his speech he said he would work toward "complete success." But in comments to reporters later he outlined what that meant. "[Iraq is] in a fragile state now. What I want to do is build it into a more stable state." He added, "What we have to do is maintain the stability so the [Iraqi] government can grow." Asked to describe the best possible scenario, Odierno said that would mean continued security and improvement in the government's ability to bring things like electricity and water to Iraqis.

He talked about Iraq as an "evolutionary" process and noted ongoing threats. An agreement with Iraqi officials about the future of U.S. troops here is still "extremely important," he said. American diplomats had said a deal would be wrapped up about July 31, but talks continue. He noted that local elections, already delayed and now hoped for by the end of year, will be critical. He cited rival Kurdish and Arab claims to disputed territories as another volatile issue still unsettled. He did not need to mention that bombers have struck several times in recent days but there were repeated warnings from speakers that Al Qaeda in Iraq is not dead.

Odierno and the other speakers showered Petraeus with praise, the real occasion at hand. The mood was practically jubilant compared to last time, when Casey told reporters that "history" would judge whether he erred by rushing to put Iraqi troops in charge – a policy Petraeus basically reversed. But much of the joy was relative, with frequent references to the horror that gripped the country last year. A helmet-less ride down the airport road today is good news. But it does not equal victory in Iraq.