A triumphant President Obama on Wednesday hailed the end of the Iraq war as a symbol of America’s unrivaled military strength in remarks to troops stationed at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg.
“As your commander in chief, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to finally say these two words, and I know your families agree: Welcome home!” Obama said as hundreds of soldiers cheered.
With the last U.S. troops preparing to leave Iraq for home by the end of December, Obama said the nearly nine-year conflict is ending “not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home.”
“Indeed, everything that American troops have done in Iraq — all the fighting and all the dying, the bleeding and the building, and the training and the partnering — all of it has led to this moment of success,” Obama said. “Now, Iraq is not a perfect place. It has many challenges ahead. But we’re leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a represented government that was elected by its people.”
Glossing over his initial opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq started by then-President George W. Bush, Obama said the conflict’s successful resolution represents America’s “unique willingness among nations to pay a great price for the progress of human freedom and dignity.”
“Unlike the old empires, we don’t make these sacrifices for territory or for resources, we do it because it’s right,” he said. “There can be no fuller expression of America’s support for self-determination than our leaving Iraq to its people.”
Obama, who pledged to end the Iraq war during the 2008 campaign, portrayed the final withdrawal as the latest in a series of American successes in its fight against terrorism that included routing the Taliban in Afghanistan and the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
The war’s end is also the latest foreign policy achievement for Obama, who in addition to killing bin Laden sent U.S. forces to Libya to help oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Political analysts say Obama’s foreign policy record is stronger than any recent Democratic incumbent, but his military successes will provide only a slight boost to his re-election bid in a campaign dominated by the ailing economy.
At Fort Bragg, Obama said America could thank its returning warriors by helping them find jobs and ensuring that they receive their service-related benefits, such as health care.
He touted his post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides financial support for education and housing to those who served at least 90 days since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He also trumpeted his proposal to provide up to $5,600 in tax credits to companies that hire unemployed veterans and up to $9,600 in tax credits to companies that hire disabled veterans. He didn’t mention the potentially deep budget cuts that could hit the Pentagon next year under a deficit-reduction agreement he struck with congressional Republicans.
“Make no mistake,” the president said, “as we go forward as a nation, we are going to keep America’s armed forces the strongest fighting force the world has ever seen. That will not stop.” The troops whistled and cheered.
