...

Obama to give primetime address on Iraq war

Other News Materials 26 August 2010 07:24 (UTC +04:00)
US President Barack Obama plans to give a speech Tuesday about the end of the US combat role in Iraq and the transition to a civilian-led effort
Obama to give primetime address on Iraq war

US President Barack Obama plans to give a speech Tuesday about the end of the US combat role in Iraq and the transition to a civilian-led effort, dpa reported.

Obama is scheduled to give the speech at 8 pm (0000 GMT) from the Oval Office after earlier in the day meeting with US Army troops at Fort Bliss in Texas, the White House said Wednesday.

Obama had set the date as the deadline for withdrawing combat forces, which was completed last week. US forces in Iraq confirmed Tuesday that fewer than 50,000 troops remained in Iraq.

The remaining troops are staying behind to continue training Iraqi security forces and assist in counter-terrorism operations and are due to leave by the end of 2011.

More than 94,000 US soldiers have left Iraq since Obama took office in January 2009 as part of his plan to shift focus to the conflict in Afghanistan.

The final US combat brigade pulled out of Iraq August 19, crossing into Kuwait. The State Department in September will take the lead from the military.

Tags:
Latest

Latest