Obama: All U.S. Troops Out of Iraq by End of Year

‘Today I can say that troops in Iraq will be home for the holidays,’ president says

Video

Obama: After nearly 9 years, Iraq war is over (NBC Nightly News, Oct. 21, 2011) — NBC’s Chuck Todd reports from the White House on President Obama’s announcement that all U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011. (02:26)

NBC’s Chuck Todd, Kristin Welker, and Jim Miklaszewski along with the Associated Press and Reuters via MSNBC.com
October 21, 2011

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, one of the longest and most divisive conflicts in U.S. history, announcing that all U.S. troops would be withdrawn from the country by year’s end.

“As promised the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,” Obama said.

The withdrawal of American troops marks a major milestone in the war that started in 2003 and resulted in the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. …

Obama, eyeing a 2012 re-election campaign likely to be fought over his handling of the U.S. economy, is looking to wind down a decade of war in the Muslim world that did lasting damage to the U.S. image worldwide and stretched its military and budget to the brink. …

In Iraq, where the U.S. force peaked at around 190,000 during the height of President George W. Bush’s troop surge in 2007, almost 4,500 U.S. soldiers have died and the war has cost U.S. taxpayers over $700 billion in military spending alone. …

Full story

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Related content

Republicans criticize Obama over Iraq withdrawal

Obama keeps campaign promise with Iraq

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Related report on this site

Statement on the Iraq War (Aug. 30, 2008)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

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