Operation Iraqi Freedom ends, Operation New Dawn begins: Obama

US President Barack Obama has finally pulled the plug on Operation Iraqi Freedom. ‘As Operation Iraqi Freedom ends, our commitment to a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq continues. Under Operation New Dawn, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain to advise and assist Iraqi forces, protect our civilians on the ground, and pursue targeted counterterrorism efforts,” said Obama.

Obama has so far pulled back 100,000 U.S. troops and turned over to Iraq the bases. Obama has promised to pull out the balance end of next year. He says that its consistent with agreement with the Iraqi government. Fewer than 50,000 troops are now left in Iraq.

“Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest — it is in our own. Our nation has paid a huge price to put Iraq’s future in the hands of its people. We have sent our men and women in uniform to make enormous sacrifices. We have spent vast resources abroad in the face of several years of recession at home,” says Obama.

Praising the armed forces, Obama said

“In seven years, they confronted a mission as challenging and as complex as any our military has ever been asked to face.

Nearly 1.5 million Americans put their lives on the line. Many returned for multiple tours of duty, far from their loved ones who bore a heroic burden of their own. And most painfully, more than 4,400 Americans have given their lives, fighting for people they never knew, for values that have defined our people for more than two centuries.

What their country asked of them was not small. And what they sacrificed was not easy.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden is in Iraq to participate in a Change of Command and Change of Mission Ceremony. He is expected to meet Iraqi political leaders to discuss the need for conclusion of negotiations on the formation of a new government.