General Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

It’s been nearly nine years since the war in Iraq began, and the toll for the US is staggering:  some 4500 dead, thousands more injured or traumatized, and $800 billion spent.  It all ends today.  The United States military is lowering its battle flag for the last time in Iraq.  Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will receive the battle standard from US Army General Lloyd Austin AKA Lion 6, the last commander of the Iraq War.

“You leave with great pride, lasting pride, secure in knowing that your sacrifice has helped the Iraqi people cast tyranny aside and to offer hope for prosperity and peace to the country’s future generations,” Panetta’s remarks are expected to read.  “Your dedication, your commitment to this mission has been the driving force behind the remarkable progress we have seen here in Baghdad and across the country.”

In coming days, the last of the 4000 US troops still in the country will be withdrawn.  No more heartbroken families.  No more heroic war dogs.  A force of 200 or so troops will remain in Iraq to oversee diplomatic operations, but combat is over.  Iraq is now in the hands of the Iraqi people.  The US will still offer training and other forms of aid, but no more boots on the ground in the former Mesopotamia.

Tags: US military ends Iraq War, Iraq War is over, Iraq War ends, Leon Panetta, battle flag lowered over Iraq, US troops to withdraw from Iraq today, Middle East, combat, military action, war, US troops leave Iraq, last US troops leave Iraq, US military withdraws from Iraq, General Lloyd Austin, US Army, Lion 6, Secretary of Defense

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