Obama Keeping Another Promise

Here is another example of why we elected Obama...and I hope people on the left are beginning to appreciate that he really HAS been effecting change. From BBC News:

Obama to confirm plan for US troop withdrawal from Iraq
Barack Obama salutes while stepping off of Marine One helicopter on the White House's South Lawn in Washington, 30 July 2010 Obama is expected to emphasise his commitment to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama is to confirm the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq by the end of 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...

"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 31 August, 2010, America's combat mission in Iraq would end.

"And that is exactly what we are doing, as promised, on schedule."

Of course 50,000 remains a sizable presence, but it is massively scaled back from where we were and they are no longer being used for major combat operations. I do not believe this will mark the end of American casualties or American involvement in limited combat operations in Iraq. Nor is Obama saying "Mission Accomplished." What he is saying is that Iraq needs to take responsibility for its own fate, for better or worse, and the time for America to carry the brunt of the burden is over. It would be irresponsible to fully abandon Iraq to its fate, but it is time for the next phase to begin.