President Obama started his remarks tonight reminding the American people that the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were the reason the U.S. and NATO waged war on Afghanistan eight years ago.
Obama said the feeling of global united and a new government gave Afghans “reason to hope” until 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq.
He said while he did not want to rehash the arguments against that war, which he campaigned against, “the Iraq War drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention.”
“[T]he decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world,” Obama said.
The president went on to detail his plan to remove all combat troops from Iraq by the end of summer 2010 in what he calls a “responsible end” to the war.
“That we are doing so is a testament to the character of our men and women in uniform,” Obama said, earning his first applause during the speech from the 4,250 cadets and their family members in the audience at West Point Military Academy.
“Thanks to their courage, grit and perseverance , we have given Iraqis a chance to shape their future, and we are successfully leaving Iraq to its people.”
Read the president’s remarks as prepared here.
