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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| US to lower flag to end Iraq war | US to lower flag to end Iraq war |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The flag of American forces in Iraq has been lowered in Baghdad, bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end. | The flag of American forces in Iraq has been lowered in Baghdad, bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end. |
| The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, told troops the mission had been worth the cost in blood and dollars. | |
| He said the years of war in Iraq had yielded to an era of opportunity in which the US was a committed partner. | He said the years of war in Iraq had yielded to an era of opportunity in which the US was a committed partner. |
| Only about 4,000 US soldiers now remain in Iraq, but they are due to leave in the next two weeks. | |
| At the peak of the operation, US forces there numbered 170,000. | |
| For 40 years, Iraq has been one of the most damaged countries on earth. | |
| The American-led invasion and overthrow of Saddam led to a savage civil war which is still not finished. | |
| The United States leaves behind a country embittered by the occupation. | |
| And yet today, as the Americans pull down their flag and leave, some Iraqis hope that their country's luck may be turning. | |
| If Iraq becomes wealthy, if it can stay more or less democratic, if it can finally bring terrorism to an end, then the 40 years of horror may be over. | |
| Its people deserve a little good luck at last. | |
| The symbolic ceremony in Baghdad officially "cased" (retired) the US forces flag, according to army tradition. | |
| It will now be taken back to the USA. | |
| Mr Panetta told US soldiers they could leave Iraq with great pride. | Mr Panetta told US soldiers they could leave Iraq with great pride. |
| "After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real," he said. | "After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real," he said. |
| Some 4,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died in the war. | Some 4,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died in the war. |
| The conflict, launched by the Bush administration in March 2003, soon became hugely unpopular as claims that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction and supporting al-Qaeda militants turned out to be untrue. |
| The war has cost the US some $1tr. | |
| Republicans have criticised the pullout citing concerns over Iraq's stability, but a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2145/iraq-backgrounder-the-troops-come-home" >recent poll by the Pew Research Centre found that 75% of Americans backed the troop withdrawal. | |
| 'Moment of success' | 'Moment of success' |
| President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging to bring troops home, said on Wednesday that the US left behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq". | President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging to bring troops home, said on Wednesday that the US left behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq". |
| In a speech in North Carolina to troops who have just returned, Mr Obama hailed the "extraordinary achievement" of the military and said they were leaving with "heads held high". | In a speech in North Carolina to troops who have just returned, Mr Obama hailed the "extraordinary achievement" of the military and said they were leaving with "heads held high". |
| "Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success," he said. | "Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success," he said. |
| "The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages." | "The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages." |
| He said the war had been "a source of great controversy" but that they had helped to build "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people". | He said the war had been "a source of great controversy" but that they had helped to build "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people". |
| Mr Obama announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, a date previously agreed by former President George W Bush in 2008. | |
| Some 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. In addition to those who died, nearly 30,000 have been wounded. | Some 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. In addition to those who died, nearly 30,000 have been wounded. |
| Troop numbers peaked during the height of the so-called surge strategy in 2007, but the last combat troops left Iraq in August last year. | |
| A small contingent of some 200 soldiers will remain in Iraq as advisers, while some 15,000 US personnel are now based at the US embassy in Baghdad - by far the world's largest. | |
| 'Ruin and mess' | 'Ruin and mess' |
| Some Iraqis have said they fear the consequences of being left to manage their own security. | Some Iraqis have said they fear the consequences of being left to manage their own security. |
| Baghdad trader Malik Abed said he was grateful to the Americans for ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein, but added: "I think now we are going to be in trouble. Maybe the terrorists will start attacking us again." | Baghdad trader Malik Abed said he was grateful to the Americans for ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein, but added: "I think now we are going to be in trouble. Maybe the terrorists will start attacking us again." |
| But in the city of Falluja, a former insurgent stronghold which was the scene of major US offensives in 2004, people burned US flags on Wednesday in celebration at the withdrawal. | But in the city of Falluja, a former insurgent stronghold which was the scene of major US offensives in 2004, people burned US flags on Wednesday in celebration at the withdrawal. |
| "No-one trusted their promises, but they said when they came to Iraq they would bring security, stability and would build our country," Ahmed Aied, a grocer, told Reuters news agency. | "No-one trusted their promises, but they said when they came to Iraq they would bring security, stability and would build our country," Ahmed Aied, a grocer, told Reuters news agency. |
| "Now they are walking out, leaving behind killings, ruin and mess." | "Now they are walking out, leaving behind killings, ruin and mess." |
| Concerns have also been voiced in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders. | Concerns have also been voiced in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders. |
| There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran. | There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran. |