The Iraq War
Obama Exit Plan Announced
Feb. 27, 2009
On February 27, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the beginning of the end of the Iraq War at the Marine Corp’s Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Leaving the exact date and manner of the troops’ departure up to military leaders, Obama set a target of at least 90,000 U.S. soldiers out of Iraq by the end of August of 2010. He plans to leave what he called a “transitional force” of up to 50,000 soldiers in Iraq to provide general support. This would include advising and equipping the Iraqi military, supporting civilian efforts such as reconstruction, and conducting counterterrorism operations. These remaining soldiers would be required to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011 as mandated by the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement signed in December of 2008 by President George W. Bush.
At the time, U.S. military leaders wanted to keep a strong U.S. presence in Iraq for as long as possible, at least until the Iraqi elections of that year, in order to ensure a successful transfer of responsibility to the Iraqi government. Due to this, most U.S. forces were not expected to be withdrawn until towards the end of the final withdrawal date.
During the announcement of the exit strategy in Iraq, President Obama also congratulated the Iraqi people and government for their "proud resilience" in not "giving into the forces of disunion." He also commended all the Marines at Camp Lejeune and all of the U.S. forces in Iraq, saying that they all “bared the heaviest burden.” However, he also warned the Iraqi people and government that they would have to remain cautious and strong in order to protect themselves from "those ... who will insist that Iraq's differences cannot be reconciled without more killing" even after the U.S. withdrawal in 2011. Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a press conference that there were “no worries” in the American withdrawal and transition of responsibility and leadership to the Iraqi government.
At the time, U.S. military leaders wanted to keep a strong U.S. presence in Iraq for as long as possible, at least until the Iraqi elections of that year, in order to ensure a successful transfer of responsibility to the Iraqi government. Due to this, most U.S. forces were not expected to be withdrawn until towards the end of the final withdrawal date.
During the announcement of the exit strategy in Iraq, President Obama also congratulated the Iraqi people and government for their "proud resilience" in not "giving into the forces of disunion." He also commended all the Marines at Camp Lejeune and all of the U.S. forces in Iraq, saying that they all “bared the heaviest burden.” However, he also warned the Iraqi people and government that they would have to remain cautious and strong in order to protect themselves from "those ... who will insist that Iraq's differences cannot be reconciled without more killing" even after the U.S. withdrawal in 2011. Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a press conference that there were “no worries” in the American withdrawal and transition of responsibility and leadership to the Iraqi government.
