Aug. 31, 2010 - Washington, D.C.
".....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 security of their country."
Obama delivers Oval Office address on Iraq
Speech Transcript
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I'd like to talk to you about
the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we
face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.
I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many
Americans. We've now been through nearly a decade of war. We've endured a
long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms,
the future that we're trying to build for our nation -- a future of lasting
peace and long-term prosperity -- may seem beyond our reach.
But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the
future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment.
It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of
America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young
century.
From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the
beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that
night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency.
Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands
of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our
relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.
These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of
America's longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst these
shifting tides. At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have
served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am incredibly
proud of their service. And like all Americans, I'm awed by their
sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.
The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were
given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together
with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own,
our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better
future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people, trained Iraqi
Security Forces, and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and
civilians -- and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people -- Iraq has
the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges
remain.
So 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 security of their country.
This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this
office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat
brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq's
Security Forces and support its government and people.
That's what we've done. We've removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from
Iraq. We've closed or transferred to the Iraqis hundreds of bases. And we
have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.
This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security.
U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq's cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have
moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow
citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security
incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And
Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its
leadership in Iraqi-led operations.
This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout.
A caretaker administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on
the results of that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq's leaders to move
forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is
just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that
government is in place, there should be no doubt: The Iraqi people will
have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending,
but our commitment to Iraq's future is not.
Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with
a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq's Security Forces,
supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counterterrorism missions, and
protecting our civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi
government, all U.S. troops will leave by the end of next year. As our
military draws down, our dedicated civilians -- diplomats, aid workers, and
advisors -- are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its
government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war,
and builds ties with the region and the world. That's a message that Vice
President Biden is delivering to the Iraqi people through his visit there
today.
This new approach reflects our long-term partnership with Iraq -- one
based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. Of course, violence will
not end with our combat mission. Extremists will continue to set off
bombs, attack Iraqi civilians and try to spark sectarian strife. But
ultimately, these terrorists will fail to achieve their goals. Iraqis are
a proud people. They have rejected sectarian war, and they have no
interest in endless destruction. They understand that, in the end, only
Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets. Only Iraqis
can build a democracy within their borders. What America can do, and will
do, is provide support for the Iraqi people as both a friend and a partner.
Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest -- it's in our own.
The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the
hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous
sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight
budgets at home. We've persevered because of a belief we share with the
Iraqi people -- a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning
could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable
chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our
responsibility. Now, it's time to turn the page.
As we do, I'm mindful that the Iraq war has been a contentious issue at
home. Here, too, it's time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to
former President George W. Bush. It's well known that he and I disagreed
about the war from its outset. Yet no one can doubt President Bush's
support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our
security. As I've said, there were patriots who supported this war, and
patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our
servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis' future.
The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move
beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the
many challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security
than our fight against al Qaeda.
Americans across the political spectrum supported the use of force
against those who attacked us on 9/11. Now, as we approach our 10th year
of combat in Afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking
tough questions about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of
what's at stake. As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and
its leadership remains anchored in the border regions of Afghanistan and
Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing
Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of
our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to
go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda
leaders -- and hundreds of al Qaeda's extremist allies -- have been killed
or captured around the world.
Within Afghanistan, I've ordered the deployment of additional troops who --
under the command of General David Petraeus -- are fighting to break the
Taliban's momentum.
As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time
to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and secure their
own future. But, as was the case in Iraq, we can't do for Afghans what
they must ultimately do for themselves. That's why we're training Afghan
Security Forces and supporting a political resolution to Afghanistan's
problems. And next August, we will begin a transition to Afghan
responsibility. The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by
conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But
make no mistake: This transition will begin -- because open-ended war
serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people's.
Indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American
influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. We
must use all elements of our power -- including our diplomacy, our economic
strength, and the power of America's example -- to secure our interests and
stand by our allies. And we must project a vision of the future that's
based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes -- a vision that
recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world,
but also the limitless possibilities of our time.
Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are
potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the
Americas. A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here
tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of
poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do
more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and
destruction -- we will also lead among those who are willing to work
together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.
Now, that effort must begin within our own borders. Throughout our
history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty
and human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and
security. But we have also understood that our nation's strength and
influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. And
the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.
Unfortunately, over the last decade, we've not done what's necessary
to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. We spent a trillion
dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn,
has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record
deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from
our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a
result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for
less, while our nation's long-term competitiveness is put at risk.
And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle
those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common
purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have
met every test that they faced. Now, it's our turn. Now, it's our
responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to
secure the dream that so many generations have fought for -- the dream that
a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.
Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions
of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our
middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and
all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy.
We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on
foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to
roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our
entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must
be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as
President.
Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our
commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long
as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the
world has ever known, and we will do whatever it takes to serve our
veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That's
why we've already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans
in decades. We're treating the signature wounds of today's wars --
post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury -- while
providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have
earned. And we're funding a Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and
their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI
Bill helped those who fought World War II -- including my grandfather --
become the backbone of our middle class, so today's servicemen and women
must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy.
Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have
fought it.
Two weeks ago, America's final combat brigade in Iraq -- the Army's
Fourth Stryker Brigade -- journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness.
Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles made the trip from Baghdad,
the last of them passing into Kuwait in the early morning hours. Over
seven years before, American troops and coalition partners had fought their
way across similar highways, but this time no shots were fired. It was
just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home.
Of course, the soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when
the war began. Many have served multiple tours of duty, far from families
who bore a heroic burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband's
embrace or a mother's kiss. Most painfully, since the war began, 55
members of the Fourth Stryker Brigade made the ultimate sacrifice -- part
of over 4,400 Americans who have given their lives in Iraq. As one staff
sergeant said, "I know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died,
this day would probably mean a lot."
Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the
hearts of our people for over two centuries. Along with nearly 1.5 million
Americans who have served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for
people they never knew. They stared into the darkest of human creations --
war -- and helped the Iraqi people seek the light of peace.
In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through
the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. Every
American who serves joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from
Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar
-- Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are
better than our own. Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And
though our nation may be travelling through rough waters, they give us
confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness,
better days lie ahead.
Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of
America, and all who serve her.
END
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