Today it has been announced that the War in Iraq is officially over. Violence and unrest remain apparent in the country but as far as the US interference and presence there, the war is considered over as troops were pulled out and sent back home today. The war has been going on for a decade now starting on September 11th, 2001 at the attack on the Twin Towers. It initially began as a US invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein and then a constant policing to make sure the country stayed peaceful and in order. Over the course of the decade 4,487 US soldiers were killed, and many more wounded. The future will now tell whether Iraq can stay in a peaceful state on its own. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at the ceremony in Iraq today, " “the cost was high — in blood and treasure of the United States, and also for the Iraqi people. But those lives have not been lost in vain — they gave birth to an independent, free and sovereign Iraq.”
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I think many Americans will be happy that this war has finally come to an end. What began as strong reaction to September 11th seems to have been drawn out into an almost pointless and endless effort to change and control a country on the the other side of the world. With the economy in as bad shape as it is the extremely high cost of military funding seems to be not in the country's best interest, and the loss of lives only makes the scenario worse. Although September 11th was a tragic day perhaps the military response to it is not as relevant as it was ten years ago, and so moving the troupes out of Iraq probably seems like the right idea to many americans.
-tt 12/15/11
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