U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd James Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Allen case the command's flag on the former Sather Air Base in Baghdad during a ceremony that marked the end of Operation New Dawn.: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.
After nearly nine years, the War in Iraq came to an end Thursday.
The Cost of War
“After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real,” Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said during a ceremony marking the official end of the conflict. “To be sure, the cost was high – in blood and treasure for the United States, and for the Iraqi people. Those lives were not lost in vain.”
According to the Department of Defense, of the more than 1.5 million Americans who served in Iraq, nearly 4,500 paid the ultimate sacrifice; an estimated 30,000 troops were injured. The war has also claimed the lives of an estimated 100,000 Iraqis.
Uncertainty over Iraq’s Future
While the administration might be celebrating the end of the conflict which, according to some estimates has cost as much at $1 trillion, others were cautious about Iraq’s future.
As a sign of the challenges still facing the Iraqi people, the ceremony took place under tight security with helicopters hovering above the event, on the lookout for incoming missiles.
“Let me be clear: Iraq will be tested in the days ahead – by terrorism, and by those who would seek to divide, by economic and social issues, by the demands of democracy itself,” the defense secretary said. “Challenges remain, but the U.S. will be there to stand by the Iraqi people as they navigate those challenges to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”
Some military officials have also expressed concern about the readiness of Iraqi security forces and their ability to maintain the nation’s security.
President Obama faced much criticism at home when negotiations to allow some U.S. troops to remain in the Middle Eastern nation after the deadline for withdrawal fell apart. American service members would have continued training their Iraqi counterparts.
Soldiers Face New Challenges at Home
President Barack Obama marked the end of the Iraq War by welcoming home troops at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg. While the president hailed the accomplishments of “the finest fighting force in the history of the world,” he also addressed the challenges they face upon returning to civilian life.
He discussed the recently-passed tax credits for hiring Veterans and challenged his audience to focus their attention on improving their own home country.
“You’re the finest our nation has to offer. And after years of rebuilding Iraq, we want to enlist our veterans in the work of rebuilding America.”
In the end, the controversial war came to a quiet end. As President Obama told soldiers at Fort Bragg, “[W]e are ending a war not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home.”
A soldier patrols a street in Baghdad. President Barack Obama announced Friday that the 40,000 soldiers still stationed in Iraq would be home in time for the holidays.: Photo by U.S. Army
President Barack Obama announced Friday that the troops remaining in Iraq will be coming home by the end of the year.
“After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over . . . The last American soldier[s] will cross the border out if Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support of our troops, ” he said in a speech.
The president, who campaigned in 2008 on the promise of ending the Iraq War, first announced a drawdown of troops in the region in 2009. His most recent announcement is in line with the deadline agreed to by former President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in 2008. The agreement committed the U.S. to completely withdraw its troops by Dec. 31, 2011.
The Obama administration and Maliki had been working to secure an agreement that would allow thousands of troops to remain in the country to provide additional training for Iraqi forces as well as provide additional security, but the deal fell apart when Iraqi lawmakers refused to give remaining troops diplomatic immunity.
Fierce Criticism
The decision has proven to be quite unpopular among Republican presidential candidates. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney didn’t pull any punches in his reaction to the president’s announcement.
“President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women,” Romney said in a statement. “The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government.”
Concern about Iran’s Influence
For many critics of the Obama administration’s war policy, Iranian influence in Iraq remains the biggest concern. Sen. John McCain said that the decision “will be viewed as a strategic victory for our enemies in the Middle East, especially the Iranian regime, which has worked relentlessly to ensure a full withdrawl of U.S. troops.”
Concern about the readiness of Iraqi troops has also been expressed by military leaders in Iraq.
“Our forces are good, but not to a sufficient degree that allows them to face external and internal challenges alone,” Col. Salam Khaled of the 6th Brigade of the Iraqi Army told the Washington Post. “The loyalty of the forces is not to their homeland. The loyalty is to the political parties and to the sects.”
Although most U.S. troops will be leaving Iraq, nearly 200 soldiers will remain to provide security for the U.S. embassy. There will also be an additional 4,000 to 5,000 contractors to provide security for American diplomats.
President Obama stated that the United States will still be involved in Iraqi affairs.
“[W]e will continue discussions on how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces – again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world,” he said. “After all, there will be some difficult days ahead for Iraq, and the United States will continue to have an interest in an Iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant. Just as Iraqis have persevered through war, I’m confident that they can build a future worthy of their history as a cradle of civilization.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explained plans for continued U.S. influence in the region.
“We are providing a support and training mission,” she said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “We will be there on the ground, working with the Iraqis. No one should miscalculate America’s resolve and commitment to helping support the Iraqi democracy. We have paid too high a price to give the Iraqis this chance.”
The Cost of War
Since the war in Iraq began in 2003, nearly 4,500 troops have been killed. An additional 32,000 were injured while serving.
As Obama announced that remaining troops in Iraq would be coming home, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta paid tribute to those who had sacrificed so much.
“Our troops and their families have borne a heavy burden during more than eight years of war, and paid a great price,” Panetta said in a statement. “Yet it is a testament to their strength and resilience that we are now able to bring this war to a responsible end. Thanks to their service and sacrifice, Iraq is ready to govern and defend itself and to contribute to security and stability in a vital part of the world.”
Health care premiums for military retirees are set to increase Saturday. The increase, which affects only those who enroll in the TRICARE Prime program after Oct. 1, 2011 will pay $260 per year (an increase of $30) and families will pay $520 per year (a $60 increase).
Because of Washington’s current focus on cutting the budget deficit, additional cost increases are likely in the near future. According to the Associated Press, the cost of the TRICARE health program has increased from $19 billion in 2001 to an estimated $53 billion this year.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has indicated that any cost increases would not affect current active-duty military or retirees.
