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Obama Plans Major Speech on Iraq Aug. 31 to Mark Troop Drawdown

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Alex Wagner
Alex Wagner
White House Correspondent
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Continuing efforts to call attention to the draw-down of U.S. troops in Iraq, the White House on Sunday announced that President Obama will make a major speech addressing the U.S. war in Iraq on Aug. 31. The date marks the deadline set by the president for the exit of all U.S. combat forces from the country -- though 50,000 non-combat troops will remain until the end of 2011 (a deadline set by former President Bush). According to the White House, the remaining forces will "train and advise Iraqi Security Forces; conduct partnered and targeted counterterrorism operations; and protect ongoing U.S. civilian and military efforts."

With an increasingly complicated picture emerging in Afghanistan, the White House has sought to underscore positive progress in Iraq, especially as Democrats head into the midterm elections this November. On Aug. 3, in a speech to the Disabled Veterans of America in Atlanta, the president touted the withdrawal of American forces as "on schedule, as promised." Despite this, the president has been careful not to say the actual words "mission accomplished" -- instead balancing any positive pronouncements with a stern warning that the struggle is not yet over. "There are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq's progress," said the president in his Atlanta speech. "The hard truth is that we have not seen an end to American sacrifice in Iraq."

President Obama, Iraq warObama is expected to be similarly cautious in his remarks next week. In an interview with the New York Times, Denis R. McDonough, chief of staff of the National Security Council, said, "Does anybody believe the violence is going to stop entirely and the opponents to stability and progress in Iraq are going to stand down? No. But we do know that the Iraqi security forces are in a position to take that role on themselves increasingly."

This cautious optimism -- an attempt to rally a dispirited and increasingly skeptical American public -- will no doubt be echoed from all corners of the administration in the coming weeks. On Monday, Vice President Biden is scheduled to discuss Iraq at a speech for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Indianapolis.

While Aug. 19 saw the actual exit of the last U.S. combat brigade from the country, President Obama made only passing mention of the fact in two fundraising speeches delivered that week. His address at the end of the month is expected to be much higher profile, with aides discussing whether he will meet with returning troops. The president is presently on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, but sources expect details on the speech to be released in the coming days.
Filed Under: Barack Obama, Iraq, Foreign Policy, Obama Administration, Middle East, White House
Tagged: Denis R. McDonough, DenisR.Mcdonough, joe biden, JoeBiden
More articles from Alex Wagner »

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43 Comments

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walkingman50

"Never mind what Joe Biden or I said in the past about it's total futility or that my Sec. State called "Betrayus" a liar before he even spoke of it's sucess. The bottom line is MY SURGE WORKED !!!!"

August 24 2010 at 8:46 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Kenneth

Obama's speech should be sweet and simple. I have found out that I do not have a clue to what I am doing. I have decided to resign and take all my flunky Democrats with me. Sorry I made such a mess.

August 24 2010 at 1:43 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
Mingo

When Obama was running for president he promised to bring our troops home from the middle east right away. Two things should come to your attention we are still there in Iraq and very much increasing war in Afghanistan. For some reason the war has expanded since obama took office aand hes running the war as the commander and cheif. The second thing is it prives he and his friends can not understand the scope of what it takes to leave a war and protect what we promise the people we defend the scope of just moving the troops This administration is clueless and will make it look what we did The same dates as Bush negoticated Yet all he is doing is moving our men to Afphanistan and leaving 50,000 in Iraq

August 23 2010 at 11:22 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mingo's comment
gpryor2397

You are aware that we were in Afghanistan beofre Obama was elected....thats where that lying president before him should have concentrated our troops efforts and not placed in a country that was not complaining about their leader but yet a country where Cheney linked based company was busy getting contracts and quarding the oil fields in the better entrance of who?.....get real and thank GOD the President has moved them at least from the LIE initiated War that became primary to Afghanistan.....read history and study to show thyself approved before spewing ignorance(lack of knowledge if that will help you)

August 23 2010 at 11:37 PM Report abuse -11 rate up rate down Reply
cfbsouthernbelle

Obama doesn't care about our troops and their families all he care about is vacations. If he pulls out all of the troops from Iraq then the taliban will go and take Iraq over. Don't get me wrong I wish all of our troops were home and that my son wasn't being deployed but come on in reality this is what we have had to do for century's to keep America Safe and Free.

August 23 2010 at 8:43 PM Report abuse +17 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cfbsouthernbelle's comment
kingnus

Safe from Iraq? Iraq couldn't even defeat Iran in an 8 year war.

August 23 2010 at 9:08 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
writingit

Drawing down the troops in Iraq and then re-deploying them to Afghanistan says a lot about the current policies. I will not be suprised if in his speech the President blames Bush for re-deploying the troops.. What a joke.

August 23 2010 at 5:08 PM Report abuse +28 rate up rate down Reply
rfrizzelle

If they come home........put them on the border pay them by eliminating all aid to illegals in any form... be it medical, food or pressing 2 for spanish. Take care of the citizens who have paid for and built this nation

August 23 2010 at 5:06 PM Report abuse +22 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to rfrizzelle's comment
dc walker

.americans use 20 million barrels of oil a day what do you suggest we use in its place???

August 23 2010 at 8:21 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
Kenneth

We have that much in us well alone,not to mention we have enough oil in the US to supply us for over 20 years. So why do we even purchase foreign oil?

August 24 2010 at 1:41 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
saksr1of3

President Obama, please stop the warring, please lets get off of crude oil fuels and get on with living for being enslaved to a monetary system is not living life to it's fullest. Be a real American President and stand up tall and do what the people are asking you to do even if it's to file bankruptsy for the country so that we the people can get rid of the greedy bankers company known as the IRS who does nothing but steal the money from the people, we don't need money to grow up. It's this stinking monetary system that is keeping the people of earth stagnate. Let's grow up for the sake of our and our childrens future!

August 23 2010 at 4:25 PM Report abuse -19 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to saksr1of3's comment
cruisedoc

And what monetary system do you propose? Communism? It is free enterprize that made this great country what it is. So, we borrow and borrow from Britan, China, Etc., and then say sorry we're declaring bankrupsy? Again, what system of exchange do you propose? The systems that stagnated people the most have been communism & socialism, which is why the Soviet Union failed, and China is now embracing free enterprize. China has gone from a starving nation to just last week becoming the second largest economy in the world. And stop warring? If the anti-war activists had there way: In the civil war, we would now be 2 countries. And in WWII, we would now be speaking German. No kidding. "If you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will HAVE to fight with all the odds against you". --Winston Churchill

August 23 2010 at 6:23 PM Report abuse +15 rate up rate down Reply
betearnhardt

And just what type of monetary system would you propose? What source of energy would you use to replace oil. Today. What has our system got to do with our children and their children. Words are cheap.

August 23 2010 at 9:46 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
propblastsgt

Hopefully he won't stand in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner while he gives the speech!

August 23 2010 at 3:33 PM Report abuse -12 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to propblastsgt's comment
lucyod

It was the crewmen who put up the sign not Bush

August 23 2010 at 4:46 PM Report abuse +23 rate up rate down Reply
propblastsgt

President Obama didn't "shock and awe" the pottery barn. The sooner he gets us out of gw bush's war of lies the better!!!

August 23 2010 at 3:32 PM Report abuse -40 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to propblastsgt's comment
walkingman50

I'm still amazed at how you people think Pres Bush was so stupid yet he constantly fooled the most intelligent (by their own acclamation) deliberative body, the United States Congress, in the world time and time again.

August 24 2010 at 8:51 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
jdac18

President will address America once again, and nothing will come from it. He gave great campaign speeches, he has yet to deliver one as president. I believe Obama is in over his head at a time when we need a real leader.

August 23 2010 at 2:52 PM Report abuse +40 rate up rate down Reply

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