Obama Announces End Of Combat Mission In Iraq

President Barack Obama announced the conclusion of combat operations in Iraq Tuesday evening and spoke of the need to “rebuild our nation here at home.”

Speaking from the Oval Office for the second time since assuming office, Obama touched upon the considerable strain the seven year long conflict put on the U.S, noting that America’s relations abroad and political unity at home were often tested by the controversial war.

However, Obama said, the end of the combat mission marks a time to “turn the page” and the President called for a renewed focus on improving the American economy.

“We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs,” Obama said. “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.”

With the U.S. focus in Iraq transitioning from combat to diplomacy, a residual force of 50,000 will be left until the end of next year to assist and train Iraqi Security Forces. Obama touted this sharp decline as the fulfillment of the pledge he made when running for office to bring the war to a responsible end.

The President also took Tuesday’s address as an opportunity to applaud the troops and to reflect on sacrifice of the more than 4,400 Americans who died in Iraq.

“Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries,” Obama stated. “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.”

Acknowledging the contention brewing over the ongoing combat in Afghanistan, Obama reaffirmed the importance of maintaining an American presence in the country, but promised that the U.S. will fulfill its plan to begin phased troop reductions next summer.

“Make no mistake: this transition will begin, because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s,” Obama said.

The President ended his remarks on an optimistic note. Once again congratulating Americans who served in Iraq, Obama described them as “the steel in our ship of state.”

“Though our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true,” Obama said. “Beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.”