Washington: President Barack Obama on Monday said America's commitment to Iraq is now changing from military to civilian efforts, even as he made it clear that US combat mission in the war-ravaged country will end as scheduled on August 31.
"Make no mistake, our commitment in Iraq is changing from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats," Obama said, despite recent flare-up of violence in the country.
"Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. I made it clear that by August 31, 2010 America's combat mission in Iraq would end. That is exactly what we are doing as promised, on schedule," he said, adding that the US has closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases.
We're moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we've seen in decades, he said.
As president, Obama inherited a security agreement with Baghdad that calls for all US forces to pull out by the end of 2011. He has ordered the force to draw down to 50,000 by September 1.
The pullout confirmation comes amid an increase of violence in Iraq, with the Baghdad government releasing figures on Saturday that said 535 people died in July, including 396 civilians, 89 policemen and 50 soldiers.
That figure was the highest for a single month since May 2008 when 563 people were killed in violence.
"By the end of this month, we'll have brought more than 90,000 of our troops home from Iraq since I took office more than 90,000," he added.
"Today even as terrorists try to derail Iraq's progress because of the sacrifices of our troops and their Iraqi partners, violence in Iraq continues to be near the lowest it's been in years," Obama said.
Next month, we will change our military mission from combat to supporting and training Iraqi security forces and in fact, in many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security, he said.
As agreed to with the Iraqi government, the US will maintain a transitional force until the US removes all its troops from Iraq by the end of next year.
"During this period, our forces will have a focused mission supporting and training Iraqi forces, partnering with Iraqis in counter terrorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military efforts," Obama added.
There are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq's progress and the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq, he said.
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