US ends its combat role in Iraq
US President Barack Obama thanks US Army troops for their service at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Tuesday. Obama is visiting with US troops in Fort Bliss on Tuesday before addressing the nation from the Oval Office later in the day about combat troop withdrawals in Iraq. (Reuters)
By REUTERS
BAGHDAD: Iraq celebrated its sovereignty as the US military formally ended combat operations on Tuesday, despite political deadlock and persistent violence, and warned other countries not to interfere as US troops depart.
US troop levels were cut to 50,000 before the partly symbolic deadline of Aug. 31 set by President Barack Obama as he seeks to fulfill his pledge to end the war launched by his predecessor George W. Bush.
The six remaining US brigades will turn their focus to training Iraqi police and troops as Iraq takes charge of its own destiny ahead of a full US withdrawal by the end of next year.
"Iraq today is sovereign and independent," Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki told Iraqis in a televised address to mark the US forces' shift to assisting rather than leading the fight against a host of opponents.
"With the execution of the troop pullout, our relations with the United States have entered a new stage between two equal, sovereign countries."
Obama promised war-weary US voters he would extricate the United States from the war, launched by Bush with the stated aim of destroying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
No such weapons were found. Almost a trillion dollars have been spent and more than 4,400 US soldiers and over 100,000 Iraqi civilians killed since the 2003 invasion.
The political impasse has raised tensions as politicians squabble over their share of power and insurgents carry out attacks aimed at undermining faith in the domestic security forces.
Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari warned Iraq's neighbors against interfering as US troops withdraw by an end-2011 deadline. "We have warned all of them there wouldn't be any vacuum, and if there would be a vacuum, the only people who will fill that vacuum are the Iraqis themselves," he said.
The White House said Tuesday Iraq's leaders should move forward with forming a government with a sense of urgency and Vice President Joe Biden flew into Baghdad on Monday not just to mark the end of combat operations but also to press for talks.
"Notwithstanding what the national press says about increased violence, the truth is things are very much different. Things are much safer," Biden told Al-Maliki.
Toppled dictator Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party crowed that the US pullback was a result of "devastating" strikes against US troops by Iraqi resistance fighters.
Obama went to Fort Bliss, Texas to personally thank troops. "Our combat phase is over," Obama told them ahead of his solemn Oval Office address to the nation to mark the end of combat in Iraq. But the US commander-in-chief warned "there is still a lot of work to do."
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates also said it was too early for victory parades, paying tribute to the 4,427 US troops killed in Iraq and the 34,268 wounded since the invasion.
US President Barack Obama thanks US Army troops for their service at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Tuesday. Obama is visiting with US troops in Fort Bliss on Tuesday before addressing the nation from the Oval Office later in the day about combat troop withdrawals in Iraq. (Reuters)
By REUTERS
BAGHDAD: Iraq celebrated its sovereignty as the US military formally ended combat operations on Tuesday, despite political deadlock and persistent violence, and warned other countries not to interfere as US troops depart.
US troop levels were cut to 50,000 before the partly symbolic deadline of Aug. 31 set by President Barack Obama as he seeks to fulfill his pledge to end the war launched by his predecessor George W. Bush.
The six remaining US brigades will turn their focus to training Iraqi police and troops as Iraq takes charge of its own destiny ahead of a full US withdrawal by the end of next year.
"Iraq today is sovereign and independent," Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki told Iraqis in a televised address to mark the US forces' shift to assisting rather than leading the fight against a host of opponents.
"With the execution of the troop pullout, our relations with the United States have entered a new stage between two equal, sovereign countries."
Obama promised war-weary US voters he would extricate the United States from the war, launched by Bush with the stated aim of destroying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
No such weapons were found. Almost a trillion dollars have been spent and more than 4,400 US soldiers and over 100,000 Iraqi civilians killed since the 2003 invasion.
The political impasse has raised tensions as politicians squabble over their share of power and insurgents carry out attacks aimed at undermining faith in the domestic security forces.
Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari warned Iraq's neighbors against interfering as US troops withdraw by an end-2011 deadline. "We have warned all of them there wouldn't be any vacuum, and if there would be a vacuum, the only people who will fill that vacuum are the Iraqis themselves," he said.
The White House said Tuesday Iraq's leaders should move forward with forming a government with a sense of urgency and Vice President Joe Biden flew into Baghdad on Monday not just to mark the end of combat operations but also to press for talks.
"Notwithstanding what the national press says about increased violence, the truth is things are very much different. Things are much safer," Biden told Al-Maliki.
Toppled dictator Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party crowed that the US pullback was a result of "devastating" strikes against US troops by Iraqi resistance fighters.
Obama went to Fort Bliss, Texas to personally thank troops. "Our combat phase is over," Obama told them ahead of his solemn Oval Office address to the nation to mark the end of combat in Iraq. But the US commander-in-chief warned "there is still a lot of work to do."
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates also said it was too early for victory parades, paying tribute to the 4,427 US troops killed in Iraq and the 34,268 wounded since the invasion.
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