CNN 2011-10-25

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After nearly nine years, America’s work in Iraq will be over. Over next two months, our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys¹ for the journey home. 

 

There are 39,000 U.S. troops in Iraq right now. And on Friday, President Obama made that announcement, a plan to bring almost all of them home by the end of the year. About 150 troops will stay to help. Meeting that December 31st deadline was a promise that Obama made he was running for president. It was originally part of * that former President George W. Bush made with Iraqi government. There are some concerns that when U.S. forces leave Iran might have a bigger influence on Iraq. These two counties are neighbors, and Iran has been accused of supporting militias² that have killed U.S. troops in Iraq. 

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Iran over the weekend. She said America’s commitment to helping³ Iraq isn’t ending, and Iran shouldn’t use this as an opportunity to build its influence in Iraq. The reaction of President Obama’s announcement has been mixed. S* Lin checks in now with details. 

 

Nearly nine years after President George W. Bush declared the start of the war in Iraq. President Barack Obama annouced virtually all the remaining troops over turn home by the end of the year. 

 

In Iraq, we succeeded in our strategy to end the war. It’s a move that the Obama administration adds to its list of national security accomplishments⁴ which includes killing⁵ Osama Bin⁶ Laden⁷, killing American Al Qaide cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, and ending the NATO-led that culminated⁸ in victory for Libyan rebels against Moammar Gadhafi. While there’s been positive reaction to the announcement.

 

I think it’s wonderful.

 

There is no better feeling in the world to know that’s fixing go back home, you know, get to reconnect. 

 

There is also been criticism from GOP presidential candidates. 

 

The thing that I wouldn’t do that the president is doing is telling the enemy how many troops you are going to bring out and when you are going to bring them out. I don’t think that’s a good strategy. 

 

The last thing that you want to do is put those men and women’s lives in *. I thinks that’s what the president’s done. 

 

Senator John McCain said Iran would be the beneficiary while Iran’s president the move was long overdue⁹. 

I think we should have done as soon as possible, maybe seven or eight years ago. They could avoid killing so many Iranian people or Americans as well. 

 

President Obama leaving Iraq would allow greater focus on the economy. I’m S* Lin reporting. 

 

Rescue efforts are going on in another one of Iraq’s neighbors. We’re talking about Turkey. A powerful earthquake hit that country on Sunday. It’s the strongest quake there in more than a decade, and it was followed by at least seven after shocks. Rescuers and citizens brought out flashlight and shovels¹⁰ to look for survivors¹¹ in the rubble¹². Dozens of apartment buildings collapsed¹³. Student dorm and part of a hospital did too. Turkey’s used to earthquake, but this one had a magnitude of 7.2. And one analyst¹⁴ said it is considered a major event. Offers of help are coming from other countries. 

 

Military forces from several nations, including the U.S., U.K. and France gave help to Libya’s citizens during that country’s civil war. They were all part of NATO’s mission, but now the war is over, NATO’s planning to end this mission in Libya by the end of this month. Meanwhile, Libya’s new leaders declared yesterday, a day of liberation following the death of long time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Officials say Libya now is united and ask for honesty, patience and tolerance¹⁵ as country rebuilds. Part of that process will be to hold elections for a new government. Plans for that could happen some time in the next 

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