Obama: Job done, but no victory in Iraq
Barack Obama orders US withdrawal from Iraq by August 2010
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Friday, 27, Feb 2009 05:58
Barack Obama has ordered the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq by August 2010.
In a speech at the Camp Lejeune marine base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Friday, the US president said the combat mission in Iraq would come to an end on August 30th next year.
He added that the US' strategy in Iraq would change to one of "responsible removal" that will see a force of 35,000 to 50,000 troops left in Iraq to support the government and security forces.
Mr Obama added all US forces would finally be removed by the end of 2011 and the troops would be brought home with the "honour they deserve".
Speaking a month before the sixth anniversary of the Iraqi war, the US president paid tribute to those Americans who had served in the conflict claiming they had born the "heaviest burden", but claimed they had "got the job done".
In his speech Mr Obama said: "Let there be no doubt, Iraq is not yet secure and there will be difficult days ahead.
"Violence will continue to be a part of daily life in Iraq."
He warned though that Iraq could not be seen in isolation and the US needed to refocus on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Speaking directly to the Iraqi people, Mr Obama also said: "You are a great nation in the cradle of civilization."
He said that America and Iraq had experienced difficult times together but claimed: "Ours is a bond of shared bloodshed."
Mr Obama's will see combat troops withdraw 19 months after Mr Obama was sworn into the White House, thereby fulfilling one of his main campaign pledges, although he had originally promised he would do it within 16 months.
It's thought top US commanders favour a 23-month withdrawal and the 19-month timetable represents somewhat of a compromise.
There are currently around 142,000 US troops serving in Iraq and the remaining residual force will be left behind to continue advising and training the Iraqi security forces.
Mr Obama is thought to favour the return of only two combat brigades this year but after December elections in the country see the pace of withdrawal by US troops from Iraq quicken.
Mr Obama recently announced a decision to deploy an extra 17,000 troops in Afghanistan to meet "urgent security needs" in the country.