Obama Declares End to Iraq Combat ...

September 1, 2010

Obama Declares End to Iraq Combat

U.S. President Barack Obama declared the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq (WashPost) in an Oval Office speech. Obama emphasized the "huge price" the United States paid in the conflict, which lasted for more than seven years, resulted in the deaths of 4,400 of the 1.5 million troops who served there, and cost $740 billion. Obama called former president George W. Bush before the speech and emphasized bipartisanship in the war effort, noting that the "greatness of our democracy" was "our ability to move beyond differences" to "confront the many challenges ahead."

He shifted from remarks on withdrawing combat troops to the war in Afghanistan and the economy, making clear he intends to begin disengaging from Afghanistan next summer (NYT). The tone of the speech was modest and embraced the surge in Iraq by drawing parallels to the escalation in Afghanistan (Politico).

Many Iraqis questioned the decision of the United States to leave the country without a government or a secure state. In a national address Tuesday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hailed the U.S. departure as "a landmark in the Iraqi people's long, hard struggle for freedom and dignity" and said Iraq "today is independent" (LAT).

Analysis: A Wall Street Journal blog compares the reactions to Obama's speech from the Weekly Standard, the New Republic, the Atlantic, and the Daily Beast.

A New York Times editorial said "there was no victory to declare last night, and Mr. Obama was right not to try."

In an interview with journalist Jane Arraf says Iraqis worry that political stalemate, widespread corruption, and weak domestic security forces will plague their country if the U.S. pulls out completely next year.

Read the text of Obama's Oval Office address.