American Troops Leaving Iraq, Leon Panetta To Hold Quiet Ceremony
On Thursday afternoon Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will hold a quiet ceremony in Baghdad where he will formerly announce the withdrawal of American Troops just in time for the holidays.
Under a US-Iraq agreement U.S. troops were to be withdrawn from the region by December 31, 2011, however after eight years, eight months and 25 days Panetta plans to bring American military personnel home a few weeks early.
In celebration of the occasion Panetta will then leave with his staff followed by the troops guarding the ceremony.
While the withdrawal is a time for celebration among military families the response from Iraqi citizens has been met with mixed emotions. In celebration of the news thousands of people burned American and Israeli flags over the last several days while one resident told the Washington Post :
“What’s the point of lighting a candle at the beginning of a tunnel when you know you will be walking in darkness?” he asked. “I am happy they are going, but I know my happiness won’t last for long.”
It’s still unclear how much sectarian violence will be witnessed in the area, since the war began more than 100,000 Iraqi citizens and 4,487 American lives were lost.
Are you happy that American troops are being sent home after nearly one decade of fighting in the region?
Tags : American Troops, iraq, iraq war, Leon Panetta, military, United States
Posted: December 15, 2011
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Dec 15, 2011
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Dec 15, 2011
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Dec 15, 2011
Happy Holidays to our American Troops they finally get to come home!
Dec 15, 2011
Very, Very happy about this..Our troops belong home with their families who love them very much..Merry Christmas to all…
Dec 15, 2011
very happy to see our hard working soldiers come HOME! Sympathy to all families who have suffered losses.
Dec 15, 2011
I'd say this is great news to wake up to! It'll be a while before they're home, and there will always be a "presence" in the Middle East, but this is a great start!
Dec 15, 2011
God Bless them.
Dec 15, 2011
The war isn't over…there is still a ton of soldiers in Afghanistan! and they are not going to be leaving anytime soon…I am glad we are out of Iraq but we are not done with the war!
Dec 15, 2011
I am very glad that these men and women are coming home. They should be home with us and their families. But what is the plan for stemming the tide of Al Qaeda? They seem worse now and Pakistan is going to keep helping them? We no longer will be just across the border.
Dec 15, 2011
I'm so happy for our troops & their families. My grandson was one of them. Thank God for a safe return. Now, admittedly, I'm not the brightest star in the sky, but I fear that an even more cruel warmonger will step up somewhere over there. I just hope it doesn't start all over again. Our soldiers deserve rest & peace of mind that is going to be hard to find considering all they have seen & been through..
Dec 15, 2011
Our troops deserve a sincere salute & smile from each & every one of us anytime we see one of them. At least a "thank you".
Dec 15, 2011
Is it over? What about Afghanistan? My son is set to do his second tour…are we supposed to just overlook our soldiers there?
Dec 15, 2011
Thank God they are coming home! And with this, the US Government needs to send home ALL OUR SOLDIERS! Enough is Enough! BRING THEM ALL HOME!
Dec 15, 2011
The war is over in Iraq,Afghanastan is a totally different WAR, no one has forgotten about our other soldiers they all are on my mind everyday.Anyone who may think all war is over today is in denial or just simply ignorant
Dec 16, 2011
my question is this…when we bring our troops home does that open us up for another attack? I am glad that our troops are coming home god bless them and their service…I just hope when they come home they wont be sent back after elections to a bigger war then there was before…we have lost to many good Soldiers to begin with I don't want to see any more Soldiers lose their lives…