In a speech to the nation Tuesday night, President Obama announced the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“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,” he said. “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,” he said. Read President Obama’s remarks posted on the White House Web site.
A new U.S. mission, Operation New Dawn, takes effect Sept. 1. About 50,000 U.S. troops will advise and assist Iraqi military and police through December 2011.
Sitting in the Oval Office, he hailed the end of America’s combat role in Iraq, recognized the sacrifices of thousands of troops killed or wounded during the operation, praised the effort in Afghanistan and stressed a renewed focus on the economy.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Did you watch Obama’s speech? Were you satisfied with his statements? Did he adequately address the circumstances under which America went to war? Was it balanced or did it lean to the left or in favor of war hawks who endorsed the war in Iraq? Join the Beliefnet Community discussion. What was your position on the war? Consider faith groups’ positions and other analysis, opinions and discussions found on Beliefnet on the war in Iraq.