President Obama has hailed the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid a “a huge price” to “put Iraq’s future in its people’s hands”.

In a speech delivered in a rare Oval Office address, he said he was “awed” by the sacrifice of the US military.

But he said America’s “most urgent task” was now to “restore our economy”.

He said the US would continue to support Iraq’s government and people.

Struggle for Iraq

* In pictures: Seven years of war
* Iraq war in figures
* Bittersweet memories for Iraqis
* Shrunken superpower

“Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country,” Mr Obama said.

The president also talked about America’s even longer conflict, the war in Afghanistan.

The BBC’s Paul Adams in Washington says he may want to concentrate on the issues that really matter to his electorate – those that will influence voters in critical midterm elections in two months time.

But Barack Obama knows he’s going to be a wartime president for some time to come, our correspondent adds.

Early on Wednesday the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, arrived in Iraq ahead of a handover ceremony to mark the formal end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Analysis

Nothing is being handed over to the Iraqis today – this is a handover ceremony from the Americans to the Americans.

The real end of combat operations here in Iraq will happen at the end of next year. This idea that the 50,000 remaining American troops in this country are non-combat is a complete illusion.

The US armed forces, said President Obama, have paid a huge price here. What about the Iraqis? Nearly 4,500 Americans died here. That’s horrible, but they were soldiers, they knew that was the risk they took.

More than 100,000, quite possibly 200,000 or more innocent Iraqi civilians have been killed here, very much as a result of the American policies after the invasion to disband the army and effectively allow a vacuum to take hold, which was then filled with violence.

At the Baghdad ceremony the outgoing US commander in Iraq, Gen Raymond Odierno, is due to hand over to Lt Gen Lloyd Austin, who will lead Operation New Dawn, which will focus on supporting Iraqi forces.

In his speech, President Obama said it was in the interests of both the US and Iraq to end the war.

“The US has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people,” he said.

“We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home… Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the US and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.”

Mr Obama said he had spoken earlier in the day to former President George W Bush, who led the US into the war and was accused of mishandling the subsequent occupation.

“It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset,” Mr Obama said.

“Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future.”

Gabriel Gatehouse meets some of the troops who are staying behind

Mr Obama said the drawdown in Iraq allowed the US military to divert resources to the fight in Afghanistan, where he said the US remained committed to defeating al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

But he reiterated the mission in that country would last “a limited time” before Afghan security forces would have to take over.

“As was the case in Iraq,” he said, “we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves.”

“Start Quote

Rhetorical flourishes might have been out of place in any case. This was unadorned with soaring words though not lacking in strategy”

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image of Mardell’s America Mardell’s America Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor

* Read Mark’s thoughts in full

The withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq came despite continuing violence and instability there.

The country’s political leaders have so far failed to form a government after elections in March produced no conclusive winner.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki lauded the withdrawal of US combat forces, saying Iraq was now “sovereign and independent”.

“Our security forces will take the lead in ensuring security and safeguarding the country and removing all threats that the country has to weather, internally or externally,” he said.
Continue reading the main story
Iraq War Timeline

* 2003 – Saddam Hussein captured; No WMDs found; Insurgency builds
* 2004 – Attacks on Shia shrines inflame sectarian tensions; Abu Ghraib abuse scandal; Transition government formed
* 2005 – Elections favour Shia and Kurds; Sunnis refuse to back constitution; Violence rages
* 2006 – Samarra attack inflames sectarian violence; Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed; Sadr City bombs kill 200; Saddam hanged
* 2007 – President Bush’s troop “surge”; Blackwater shootings; UK hands Basra to Iraqi forces
* 2008 – Sunni bloc rejoins government; Iraqis battle Sadr militia in Basra; US hands over Anbar; pact for US troops to leave by end of 2011
* 2009 – Provincial elections held; US forces leave towns and cities; Hundreds killed in Baghdad attacks
* 2010 – Political vacuum after parliamentary election; US combat troops withdraw; 50,000 remain in Iraq

Violence in Iraq is down from the peak seen during the sectarian conflict in 2006-2007, although the number of civilian deaths rose sharply in July.

But while many Iraqis have welcomed the withdrawal, others say they believe it is happening too soon and that the country is not ready to manage its own security.

The last US combat brigade left Iraq nearly two weeks ago, well ahead of the 31 August target set by President Obama to cut the number of US troops in Iraq below 50,000.

All US forces must be gone by the end of next year.

‘Claiming credit’

Meanwhile, in Washington political wrangling has turned to who deserved credit for the end to the combat mission.

Republican leaders say the turning point could not have come without a 2007 troop surge ordered by former President George W Bush – and opposed by Mr Obama, then a US senator.

“Some leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results,” House Republican leader John Boehner said on Tuesday.

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