Speaking from the White House on August 31, 2010, President Barack Obama said: ” ‘The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people, trained Iraqi Security Forces, and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians–and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people–Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain. So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.’ ”
– Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq,” The White House Office of the Press Secretary, Aug. 31, 2010