Obama says Iraqi withdrawal on schedule
August 2nd, 2010 - 11:19 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, Aug 2 (DPA) US President Barack Obama said Monday his plan to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq is on schedule but cautioned that Americans will continue to make sacrifices.
Speaking at the Disabled American Veterans convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Obama said all of the remaining US combat forces will be out of Iraq by the end of August, reducing the presence to 50,000 soldiers who will stay behind to train Iraqi security forces, provide logistical support and assist in counter-terrorism missions.
“These are dangerous tasks,” Obama said. “And there are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq’s progress. And the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq.”
Obama campaigned on ending the US role in the war in Iraq to focus more resources on the war in Afghanistan, where he has sent tens of thousands of additional troops. Obama said by the end of August, more than 90,000 soldiers will have left Iraq since he took office in January 2009.
All US forces are due to leave Iraq by the end of 2011.
- President Obama confirms that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will end by August 31 - Aug 03, 2010
- 'Only 17,000 US soldiers left in Iraq' - Nov 25, 2011
- Obama says combat operations in Iraq coming to a close - Aug 29, 2010
- 'War is ending' in Iraq: Obama - Aug 28, 2010
- US troops to withdraw in time from Iraq: Biden - Jul 19, 2010
- American Combat Operations In Iraq Ends As U.S. Troops Head Home - Aug 20, 2010
- Obama declares end to US combat operations in Iraq - Sep 01, 2010
- US troops in Afghanistan outnumber those in Iraq - May 25, 2010
- Final brigade of US combat troops leaves Iraq - Aug 19, 2010
- Last American Combat Troops Withdrawn From Iraq - Aug 19, 2010
- U.S. officially ends nearly nine-year-long war in Iraq - Dec 15, 2011
- Last US troops out of Iraq (Lead) - Dec 18, 2011
- Gen. Odierno says US troops will return only if Iraq security force "completely fails" - Aug 23, 2010
- US Vice President Joe Biden visits Iraq - Aug 31, 2010
- Obama to mark Iraq transition with major address - Aug 31, 2010
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