Commentary: Despite Obama's pledge, our Iraq commitment hasn't endedBy Bob Ray Sanders | The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Posted on Sunday, August 8, 2010
This should be a day of jubilation in America, but I can't rejoice over the latest news about Iraq.
President Barack Obama, in a Monday speech to disabled veterans, reminded us of a pledge he made as a candidate.
"I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end," he said. "Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. And I made it clear that by Aug. 31, 2010, America's combat mission in Iraq would end. And that is exactly what we are doing — as promised and on schedule."
That news definitely pleases me because it means that by the end of this month, more than 90,000 U.S. troops will have left Iraq since the president took office, and hundreds of bases have been closed or turned over to Iraqis.
~snip~
When I consider that more than 1 million Americans have served in this ill-advised and totally unnecessary war since 2003, I am reminded that more than 4,400 of them died and thousands more were severely damaged.