Tag Archives: Afghanistan and Iraq

End of U.S. combat mission in Iraq

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Obama in oval office

The United States has ended its seven-and-a-half-year military operation in Iraq and is shifting to a civilian-led mission to build a partnership with the country that will strengthen its government, industry and people, President Obama told the American people in nationally televised address August 31.

“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,” Obama said. Some U.S. forces will remain to train Iraqi security officials.

“Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility,” Obama said. “Now, it’s time to turn the page.”

What do you think of the president’s remarks?

Salute the troops

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Hello again, it’s me, Michelle. Ned and Kirsten have wrapped up their summer internships at America.gov and are headed back to their universities. Didn’t they do a great job blogging about Obama?

Back when Barack Obama was running for president, he said he would withdraw combat troops from Iraq. And now, that is becoming a reality. On August 31, the United States’ combat mission in Iraq will come to an end.

“At this key transition point, it is important to show our support to the troops and their families,” the White House says on its website. How to show your support? The White House provides tips on how to craft a message to American soldiers via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Flickr.

President Obama is expected to mark the August 31 end of combat operations with a televised speech to the American people.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming

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Sorry it’s been a while since I have updated the blog – I had to go out of town for a few weeks.

There’s no doubt what the biggest story for the administration has been while I was out – the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. McChrystal and his aides made disparaging remarks about administration officials in a recent article published in Rolling Stone magazine.

“I welcome debate among my team, but I won’t tolerate division,” Obama said in remarks announcing that he would nominate General David Petraeus to take the commander position.

What do you think of the president’s decision?

Obama Meets With Afghanistan's Karzai

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in the United States Monday for a four-day mission to repair relations.

White House officials said that on Tuesday Karzai met with Secretary Hillary R. Clinton and State Department officials throughout the day discussing strategic partnership between the nations. Secretary Clinton also met with Karzai’s Afghan delegation, which included several ministers.

“What measures true partnership is the ability, when the stakes are as high as they are for Afghanistan and the United States of America, to be able to work our way through difficulties and come back together,” U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry told the Associated Press.

Karzai will visit the White House on Wednesday and meet with President Obama.

Obama Visits Afghanistan for First Time as President

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President Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan for the first time as president March 28 in an unannounced visit (for security) to meet with Afghan President Hamid Kharzai and U.S. service members, a trip that lasted six hours.

Obama’s national security advisor James L. Jones said Obama wanted Karzai to know that “in [Karzai’s] second term, there are certain things that have not been paid attention to, almost since day one.”

Those things include wanting “to continue to make progress on the civilian process,” Obama said, and following up on Karzai’s inaugural address promises to fight corruption in the government once ruled by the Taliban.

At Bagram Air Force base, Obama addressed a crowd of U.S. and allied troops.

“Our broad mission is clear: We are going to disrupt and dismantle, defeat and destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies,” Obama said. “And to accomplish that goal, our objectives here in Afghanistan are also clear: We’re going to deny al Qaeda safe haven. We’re going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum. We’re going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan government so that they can begin taking responsibility and gain confidence of the Afghan people.”

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President Barack Obama greets a woman U.S. service member in Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan March 28. (Courtesy of The White House)

In December, Obama ordered additional 30,000 troops to be sent to Afghanistan.

“Make no mistake, this fight matters to us…it matters to the Afghan people,” Obama said. “Al Qaeda and the violent extremists who you’re fighting against want to destroy. But all of you want to build — and that is something essential about America. They’ve got no respect for human life. You see dignity in every human being. That’s part of what we value as Americans. They want to drive races and regions and religions apart. You want to bring people together and see the world move forward together. They offer fear, in other words, and you offer hope.”

Obama spoke to troops about his efforts to improve pay and benefits to service members.

Watch President Obama’s address on video.

Obama Praises Iraq Elections

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Iraq Parliamentary Elections took place March 7. As determined by Iraq, 16 countries held Out-of-Country voting centers, including the United States.

As an Iraqi-American, I was eligible to vote under Iraq’s requirements and cast my ballot this weekend in Virginia, one of only five states with polling centers for the Diaspora community who fled Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein.

This is Iraq’s second-ever parliamentary elections. The first one was held in 2005, electing Iraq’s first 275 members of parliament, who then appointed the prime minister.

“Today’s voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq,” President Barack Obama said March 7. “Overall, the level of security and the prevention of destabilizing attacks speaks to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi Security Forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls.”

Your blogger, with her finger dyed in purple ink, a measure to keep voters from voting more than once.

Your blogger, with her finger dyed in purple ink, a measure to keep people from voting more than once.

Similar to the 2005 elections, violence was kept to a minimum with the help of a nationwide curfew and other security measures implemented by American troops.

“I also want to express my admiration for the thousands of Americans on the ground in Iraq — for our civilians and our men and women in uniform who continue to support our Iraqi partners,” Obama said. “This election is also a tribute to all who have served and sacrificed in Iraq over the last seven years, including many who have given their lives.”

The ballots from all 16 participating countries – Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey, Germany, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Austria, Iran, Egypt and the United States – in tamper-evident clear bins will be shipped overseas for the final tabulations.

“In this process, the United States does not support particular candidates or coalitions,” Obama said. “We support the right of the Iraqi people to choose their own leaders.”

Proof of Iraqi origin was a requirement in all the countries, as declared by Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, which organized the 2010 vote.

“We are mindful, however, that today’s voting is the beginning and not the end of a long electoral and constitutional process,” Obama said. “The ballots must be counted. Complaints must be heard, and Iraq — with the support of the United Nations — has a process in place to investigate and adjudicate any allegations of fraud. A parliament must be seated, leaders must be chosen, and a new government must be formed. All of these important steps will take time — not weeks, but months.”

Polls closed worldwide today and in-country tabulations have already begun.

“I congratulate the people of Iraq for casting their ballots in this important parliamentary election,” Obama said. “I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process.”

Quotes from the State of the Union

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State of the Union address

A few highlights of the President’s speech to Congress and the American people, January 27:

“Engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people.” Obama said his administration has worked and will work with other nations in partnership to strengthen education, combat climate change, fight HIV/AIDS and grow the economy.

“We will reward good governance, work to reduce corruption, and support the rights of all Afghans.” Obama said that while the United States will continue to help the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, he is commitment to withdrawing all combat troops soon.

“Jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010.” The administration has helped 2 million people find jobs, Obama said, but more are needed, which is why he is asking Congress to pass a bill that would provide incentives for small businesses to hire more workers.

“I do not accept second place for the United States of America.” Other nations are putting more emphasis on math and science and strengthening their infrastructure, Obama said, and the United States needs to do the same to compete with these countries.

“The nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy.” Whatever your beliefs are about climate change, providing incentives for energy-efficiency is good economic sense, the president said. Obama is also seeking more investments in clean-coal technologies and bio fuels.

“The best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education.” The president called for tax incentives and other financial assistance to make higher-education more affordable.

“I didn’t choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt.” Obama acknowledged setbacks in getting health care reform legislation passed through Congress, but he continues to keep trying.

“None of these reforms will even happen if we don’t also reform how we work with one another.” This comment was directed to members of Congress. Political disagreements have long been a part of American history, Obama said. But what frustrates citizens today is politics of personal attacks and refusals to cooperate with politicians on the other side of the aisle. Obama said he would continue to try to change the tone of politics.

“I never suggested that change would be easy.” Many around the world remember the president’s 2008 campaign slogan, “change you can believe in.” A year into office, the president still faces many of the same obstacles his predecessor had. Change stirs up passions and controversies, Obama said, reflecting on a year in which some of his legislative proposals have received push back not only from Congress, but from the American people. But Americans have never been afraid of doing something that was hard, and neither is he, the president said.

Do you have any favorite moments from the State of the Union speech?

30,000 more troops headed to Afghanistan

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“The status quo is not sustainable,” President Obama told cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York December 1, which is why he has approved a plan to bring 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Obama’s prime-time speech also aired live on American television networks.

“As commander in chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan,” he said. Additional troop deployments will begin in early 2010. Troops will begin coming home in July, 2011, Obama said, as more responsibility is transferred to Afghan forces.

“I do not make this decision lightly,” Obama said, acknowledging the impact it has on members of the military and their families. “I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda.”

The war in Afghanistan is not just America’s effort, Obama said. Which is why he has asked ally nations to commit additional troops as well.

For more, see “Troop Surge Will Allow Afghans to Assume Security Responsibility.”

Changes to Afghanistan strategy in store

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President Obama plans to speak to Americans via a prime-time address December 1 about new plans for the war in Afghanistan, which has now lasted about eight years.

His top political advisors and military commanders are aware of the upcoming changes, as President Obama met with them Sunday evening in the oval office. This comes after months of reviews of current Afghanistan policies and meetings with top officials.

The new strategy will likely include an increase in troops and plans to further strengthen the Afghan and Pakistani governments’ involvement. Before announcing it to the American people, the president plans to talk to leaders of some of its greatest allies, including Great Britain and France.

For more on the upcoming speech, see “Obama Addresses Afghanistan Strategy December 1.” What role should the United States continue to play in Afghanistan?

Obama honors veterans

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Obama at Arlington Cemetery

As Americans marked Veterans Day November 11, President Obama spoke at Arlington Cemetery, where many who served in U.S. wars are buried.

The president spoke a great deal about those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. “For those who are serving in far-flung places today, when your tour ends, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you will be home in an America that is forever here for you, just as you’ve been there for us,” he said.

Obama also made an unannounced visit to the section of the cemetery where victims of those wars are buried and spoke with relatives of the fallen. Video of his speech is available on the White House Web site.

President Obama spoke at another solemn ceremony the day before, this one a memorial for those killed at the Fort Hood military base November 5. To family members of the victims, he said, “your loved ones endure through the life of our nation. Their memory will be honored in the places they lived and by the people they touched.” Text of the president’s remarks is available on the White House Web site.