Obama Marks End Of Iraq War At Fort Bragg – With Video
Dec 15, 2011 1 Comment ›› Angelia
President Barack Obama yesterday marked the end of the Iraq war with a tribute to the thousands of brave American troops who fought and died in the conflict.
Accompanied by his wife Michelle, the president travelled to Fort Bragg in North Carolina to address service members and their families as he brought the war to a close.
He told thousands of troops at the base: ‘As your commander-in-chief and on behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to finally say these two words: welcome home, welcome home, welcome home.’
Mr Obama highlighted the human side of the war, reflecting on the bravery and sacrifices of U.S. forces now on their way back home.
The North Carolina base alone has seen more than 200 deaths over nearly nine years of fighting in Iraq.
He told the crowd members, clad in fatigues and maroon berets to signify active airborne status, the total costs of the battle – more than 1.5million U.S. troops served; 30,000 were wounded and 4,500 died.
But he added that the effort had not been in vain.
‘Of course, Iraq is not a perfect place,’ he said. ‘But we are leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people. We are building a new partnership between our nations.’
All U.S. troops are to be out of Iraq by December 31, though Mr Obama has pledged the country will continue to help Iraq as it faces an uncertain future in a volatile region of the world.
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