war in iraq: Obama declares

Obama states end to Irak War, Almost all members of the military to go back home through the year's end, us president says

war in iraq: Obama declares

Us president Obama on Friday stated an end to the Iraq battle, on the list of longest and many divisive conflicts in U.S. record, informing that each one United states soldiers could be removed through the state by year's conclude.

Obama's declaration finish months of wrangling more than whether or not the U.S. would retain a force in Iraq beyond 2011. He never mentioned the tense and ultimately fruitless negotiations with Iraq over whether to keep several thousand U.S. forces there as a training force and a hedge against meddling from Iran or other outside forces.

Instead, Obama spoke of a promise kept, a new day for a self-reliant Iraq and a focus on building up the economy at home.

"I can report that, as promised, the rest of our soldier in Iraq will come home by the end of the year," Obama said. "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over."

Obama spoke after a private videoconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and he offered assurances that the two leaders agreed on the decision.

The U.S. military presence in Iraq stands at just under 40,000 soldier. All U.S. soldiers are to exit the country in accordance with a deal struck between the countries in 2008 when George W. Bush was president.

Obama, an opponent of the war from the start, took office and accelerated the end of the conflict. In August 2010, he declared the U.S. combat mission over.

"Over the next two months our soldier in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home," Obama said. "The last US soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success and knowing that the US people stand united in our support for our soldier."

More than 4,400 US military members have been killed since the U.S. and its allies invaded Iraq in March 2003.

The Associated Press first reported last week that the United States would not keep soldier in Iraq past the year-end withdrawal deadline, except for some soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy. In recent months, Washington had been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand US soldier remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. Pulling soldier out by the end of this year allows both al-Maliki and Obama to claim victory. Obama kept a campaign promise to end the war, and al-Maliki will have ended the American presence and restored Iraqi sovereignty.