WASHINGTON – President Obama marked the end of America's combat mission in Iraq with an Oval Office speech Tuesday night, acknowledging the "huge price'' paid and ushering in a new era in which a reduced U.S. military force will let Iraqis take the lead role in building a democratic society. In excerpts of the speech released in advance by the Whiteyouth nfl jerseys House, Obama praised the 1 million American troops who served in a seven-year war that he had opposed as a U.S. senator from Illinois. "Tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the securityChicago Bears Jersey of their country,'' according to an excerpt from Obama's prime-time address. Get breaking news alerts delivered to your Dallas Cowboys Jerseymobile phone. Text BREAKING to 52669. "Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest – it is in our own,'' the prepared remarks said. "The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people.'' The war toll was substantial: More than 4,400 American soldiers died with another 30,000 wounded. Thousands more Iraqis were killed. Obama used the grand setting of a refurbished Oval Oakland Raiders JerseyOffice to announce a milestone that his White House has portrayed as a campaign commitment now fulfilled. He devoted his weekly address on Aug. 28th to the withdrawal of remaining combat troops. On Tuesday morning he made a quick visit to an Army base in Texas to greet troops who will deploy to Iraq as part of the new support mission, "Operation New Dawn.'' Mindful of the infamous "Mission Accomplished'' banner of May 1, 2003, that dogged George W. Bush's presidency, Obama promised Army personnel at Ft. Bliss that he won't take a "victory lap" over the Iraq withdrawal. As he traveled to Texas, Obama spoke to former President Bush, whoNew York Jets Jersey had announced the start of the war in an Oval Office speech delivered in March 2003. White House aides declined to release details of what they said was a private talk. The end of combat operations announced by Obama began with an agreement forged at the end of the Bush administration. Before leaving office, Bush administration officials reached an agreement with the Iraqi government to ratchet down the American military commitment in phases, culminating with the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces by the end of 2011. A total of 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq for more than another year. Obama said he will meet the pledge to withdraw all forces by the end of next year. Vice President Joe Biden was in Iraq on Tuesday toGreen Bay Packers Jersey assure Iraqi leaders that the U.S. is not turning its back on them as the combat operations come to a close. Biden is set to preside over a formal change-of-command ceremony on Wednesday. "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,'' according to another excerpt from Obama's Miami Dolphins Jerseyspeech. In a noteworthy concession to his political predicament on the domestic front, Obama devoted part of the speech to the ailing economy. Polls show the 9.5% unemployment rate far outweighs the Iraq war as a source of concern for Americans. Surveys also show widespread dissatisfaction with Obama's handling of the economy. With mid-term elections approaching and voters feeling restive, White House advisors concluded that Obama couldn't ignore the economyWashington Redskins Jersey even in a speech devoted to a major turning point in the Iraqi engagement. Obama made clear that he grasps the nation's anxious mood. HePatrick Willis Jersey said that, going forward, the economy trumps all else – including, by implication, the work in Iraq and the continuing war in Afghanistan. "Today, our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work,'' according to a speech excerpt. In his prepared remarks, Obama said the U.S. must "jumpstart industries that create jobs'' and encourage innovation. That, he added, "must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as president.'' A White House official said Tuesday that the president wants to take some of the resources now flowing to the Iraq and Afghanistan war efforts and "refocus" them into the U.S. economy. As one war winds down, another is picking up. Obama has long considered Afghanistan the real front in the war against terrorist extremists. He has drawn down the troops in Iraq by nearly 100,000 while ramping up the number deployed in Afghanistan by roughly the same proportion. Yet looming over that conflict is Obama's promise of a troop drawdown in Afghanistan in July of next year. Obama has said that withdrawal is contingent on conditions in Afghanistan at the time.
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