The President has set a definitive date for bringing the war in Iraq to a close.
Wired PR News.com – President Barack Obama has set a date to bring the war in Iraq to a close. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Obama made the declaration Friday to end the war within 18 months. The President is quoted in the report as stating to Marines who are preparing for deployment to Afghanistan, “Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.”
Obama is further quoted as asserting, “What we will not do is let the pursuit of the perfect stand in the way of achievable goals…We cannot rid Iraq of all who oppose America or sympathize with our adversaries. We cannot police Iraq’s streets until they are completely safe, nor stay until Iraq’s union is perfected.”
Obama reportedly plans to have 100,000 troops withdrawn by the middle of 2010.