Obama Announces Troop Drawdown (Video)

Speaking before the Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, Georgia today, President Obama announced that the troops in Afghanistan will soon be coming home.

“Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. And I made it clear that by August 31, 2010, America’s combat mission in Iraq would end. And that is exactly what we are doing; as promised, on schedule.”

According to the New York Times,

By the end of this month, the American force in Iraq will have shrunk to just 50,000 troops, from 144,000. The remaining “advise and assist” brigades will officially focus on supporting and training Iraqi security forces, protecting American personnel and facilities and mounting counter-terrorism operations. Those 50,000 troops are due to leave by the end of 2011.

More than 1 million brave Americans have served in Iraq and it is because of their sacrifice that this mission it transforming from one of combat, to one of training and support for the new Iraqi  security forces.

We the American people are eternally thankful for all that our troops have done for us; in Iraq and elswhere.

Although those outside of the Administration understand that it was the Bush troop surge that won this war, I will give credit to Joe Biden, the Obama Administration, or anyone else who wants it, just as long as our troops are safely coming home .

Video – President’s Obama’s speech on the troops coming home from Iraq.