The appropriate response to how the Iraqis made it through Sunday's elections is "so far, so good."

Scattered violence occurred and some voters were deterred from voting. Even so, the turnout was a strong 62 percent -- not as high as that in the 2005 elections, where 79.6 percent appeared at the polls, but quite good, especially compared to the 2008 American voter turnout of 56.8 percent.

No violence would have been preferable, but Iraqi forces, which are now responsible for security in the cities, performed well in limiting attacks on voters and polling places. The 96,000 U.S. troops remain responsible for security outside the cities.

The U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Raymond Odierno, concluded from the elections that the United States will be able to follow the withdrawal schedule set by President Barack Obama. The American troop level will fall to 50,000 by Sept. 1 and drop to zero by the end of 2011, ending the 8-year-old war.

The next step for Iraqis, who are still tabulating votes, is to learn which parties and coalitions won how many seats. The first results could be released as early as today. After that, the formidable task will be to form a new government, with a prime minister and other high officials. That could take a long time; after the 2005 elections, setting up the government took six months.

There is every reason to believe that the government-forming process can take place in relative peace, although sectarian tensions among the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds always risk moving from political competition to active conflict. The Obama administration should continue to make clear that the United States intends to stick to its stated withdrawal schedule, whatever the Iraqis do.

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