I love to start my day with an uplifting tidbit of news like this: Barack Obama is bringing all but 50,000 US troops home from Iraq at the end of this month.
US President Barack Obama has confirmed the end of all combat operations in Iraq by 31 August. Some 50,000 of 65,000 US troops currently in Iraq are set to remain until the end of 2011 to advise Iraqi forces and protect US interests.
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The remaining 50,000 troops will stay in the country in order to train Iraqi security forces, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide civilians with ongoing security, said Mr Obama.
[via BBC News – Obama confirms plan for US troop withdrawal from Iraq]
I am not naive enough to believe that none of our men and women will be injured or killed after the “end of all combat operations.” I am not concerned (for the moment) with whether or nor we “won” or “lost” this war or whether we should or should not have invaded in the first place.
As these vets come home, we should welcome them with gratitude and appreciation for doing their jobs bravely and well. Each one served our interests as expressed by our freely elected federal government.
I am optimistic enough, and I invite you to join me in this, to look forward to the end of 2011 when the last of our troops come home from Iraq. Beyond that, I look forward to the day (not too far off, I hope) when we are not involved in any wars anywhere.
