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Final U.S. combat brigade withdraws from Iraq
by Joseph Ernest August 19, 2010
Newscast Media -- Early Thursday morning, the last U.S. combat brigade withdrew from Iraq, more than seven years after the US-led coalition invaded the country in a war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 US troops. The brigade left the country two weeks before an August 31 deadline for the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom pledged by Barack Obama, the US president, on taking office.
The soldier pictured above who wished to remain anonymous said, "It feels great. This marks the end of a year long mission in Iraq for our brigade, and also represents the end of seven years of war, in Operation Iraqi Freedom."
He continued to say, "It means we finished a mission and I'm proud to know that our brigade was the last combat brigade in Iraq. We finished with honor, we finished with dignity, most importantly we left capacity with the Iraqi security forces so they can take the lead from here on out."
Over the course of the week, soldiers from the 4th Stryker brigade, 2nd Infantry Division have driven hundreds of vehicles from Camp Victory near the Baghdad airport to Camp Virginia in Kuwait. Story continues below
Despite the withdrawal, approximately 50,000 US troops will remain in the country in an advisory capacity, helping to train Iraqi forces in a new mission codenamed Operation New Dawn, which will run until the end of 2011.
The US state department spokesman, Philip Crowley, called the end of combat operations a "historic moment," but stressed America's long-term commitment to Iraq was unwavering.
"We're not ending our involvement in Iraq," he told US broadcaster MSNBC.
"We will have important work to do. This is a transition. This is not the end of something. It's a transition to something different. We have a long-term commitment to Iraq."
The Iraqi military is using US equipment, which means security forces will need US trainers, technicians and links with the US military industrial complex in years to come. Add Comments>>
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