Politics & Government

Poll: Obama Announces Withdrawal from Iraq

More than 4,400 American military lives have been lost since the start of the war in March 2003.

President Obama confirmed the plan today to withdraw almost all U.S. troops from Iraq by Jan. 1, according to USA Today.

"Today, I can report that as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," Obama said in a statement this afternoon.

Only about 150 troops will remain in Iraq to assist with arms sales, according to a CNN report.

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The U.S. had intended to leave about 40,000 troops in Iraq to assist in the training of the Iraqi Army, but the two nations were unable to reach an agreement regarding the legal status of U.S. troops, according to CNN. The U.S. had insisted its troops retain immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, but Iraq refused to grant it.

The Iraq war began more than eight and a half years ago and has cost more than 4,400 American lives.

Find out what's happening in Oceanside-Camp Pendletonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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