The end to the United States’ †††††††† seven-year-long combat mission in Iraq was announced on Tuesday night.† Although the U.S. will continue to support the Iraqi government, more focus will now be placed on problems happening within the United States that need increased attention.
President Barack Obama stated in his address to the Union on Tuesday night, “the United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people,.” Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.”
In order to support the Iraqi government, Obama announced that 50,000 U.S. troops will remain stationed in Iraq in order to properly train and advise Iraqi troops.† The U.S. hopes with this training the Iraqi soldiers will have the proper tools to function on their own.
Obama was opposed to the Iraq War from its outset and he made that notion clear in his speech.† However, he did mention that† despite the controversy over the Iraq combat mission throughout the past years, attacks are nearing the lowest level ever recorded. “We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people, a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization,” Obama said.
In regards to “turning the page,” the United States will now focus on fixing the economy at home.† Obama gave clear appreciation to the American troops for their “enormous sacrifices in Iraq” and explained that the United States “spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home.”
Obama’s first priority in regards to the economy is getting the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the recession back to work.† Plans include jumpstarting and stimulating the industries that create jobs, become innovative enough within the country to stop the dependency on foreign oil, and nurture independent ideas from small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-up companies.
With one war now ending, another continues to rage.† Obama drew attention to the war in Afghanistan that is now approaching the ten year mark. Obama claims that with the drawback in Iraq, more attention can be put on the war in Afghanistan. By July 2011, America hopes to begin withdrawing troops, to “begin a transition to Afghan responsibility.”
1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq and 4,400 American troops have died. The announcement on Tuesday of the end of the combat mission is surely a new page in American history and the end to a controversial war.