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White House unveils 'Promise Kept' timeline on Iraq
Dec 13, 2011
With U.S. military involvement in Iraq ending this month, President Obama's team has unveiled an Iraq "interactive timeline" on the White House website.
Under the headline "Promise Kept," the timeline runs from Obama's inaugural address of Jan. 20, 2009 -- when he said, "we will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people" -- to this month's wrap-up; it features quotes and video clips from key Obama speeches on Iraq.
"American troops have served in Iraq with honor and distinction since March 19, 2003, but the cost to our nation has been great," says the website. "December 2011 marks the end of our mission in Iraq, and the fulfillment of a promise Barack Obama made to the American people even before he became president."
"Now," it adds, "President Obama has made another promise to the troops and their families: We will fight as hard for them as they return home as they have done for us these past nine years."
With the formal hand-off approaching this month, this is a big week for Iraq events at the White House.
On Monday, Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Tomorrow, the president and first lady Michelle Obama fly to Fort Bragg, N.C., to meet with troops who have served in Iraq.
After meeting with al-Maliki, Obama said:
When I took office, nearly 150,000 American troops were deployed in Iraq, and I pledged to end this war, responsibly. Today, only several thousand troops remain there, and more are coming home every day.
This is a season of homecomings, and military families across America are being reunited for the holidays. In the coming days, the last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq, with honor and with their heads held high. After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month.
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Dec 13, 2011
With U.S. military involvement in Iraq ending this month, President Obama's team has unveiled an Iraq "interactive timeline" on the White House website.
Under the headline "Promise Kept," the timeline runs from Obama's inaugural address of Jan. 20, 2009 -- when he said, "we will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people" -- to this month's wrap-up; it features quotes and video clips from key Obama speeches on Iraq.
"American troops have served in Iraq with honor and distinction since March 19, 2003, but the cost to our nation has been great," says the website. "December 2011 marks the end of our mission in Iraq, and the fulfillment of a promise Barack Obama made to the American people even before he became president."
"Now," it adds, "President Obama has made another promise to the troops and their families: We will fight as hard for them as they return home as they have done for us these past nine years."
With the formal hand-off approaching this month, this is a big week for Iraq events at the White House.
On Monday, Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Tomorrow, the president and first lady Michelle Obama fly to Fort Bragg, N.C., to meet with troops who have served in Iraq.
After meeting with al-Maliki, Obama said:
When I took office, nearly 150,000 American troops were deployed in Iraq, and I pledged to end this war, responsibly. Today, only several thousand troops remain there, and more are coming home every day.
This is a season of homecomings, and military families across America are being reunited for the holidays. In the coming days, the last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq, with honor and with their heads held high. After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
