The American Business Journal: Obama formally ends combat in Iraq

Obama formally ends combat in Iraq
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USA News on 01 September, 2010 10:30:00
 
ABJ Sep 1 - A war that may go down as "America's single greatest foreign policy
blunder" reached a milestone Tuesday night when U.S. President Barack Obama
announced: "Operation Iraqi Freedom is over".
The declaration, spoken in a live address from the Oval Office, marked the end
of American combat operations after more than seven years of military efforts in
Iraq.
"We have met our responsibilities. Now, it is time to turn the page," said
Obama.
The shift away from combat is leaving about 50,000 American troops in Iraq,
scheduled to leave by August 2011, in an "advise and assist" capacity.
"Iraqis are a proud people. They understand that only Iraqis can resolve their
differences and police their streets. Only Iraqis can build a democracy within
their borders," added Obama. "It's well known that [former U.S. President George
W. Bush] and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt
President Bush's support for the troops or his love of country or his commitment
to our security."
The focus for Obama now turns to improving the American economy and its sagging
job market.