US Ending Combat Operations In Iraq

OMG, I had no idea.

The final convoy of the Army’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., were about to enter Kuwait shortly after 1:30 a.m. (6:30 p.m. Wednesday ET), carrying the last of the 14,000 U.S. combat forces in Iraq, said NBC’s Richard Engel, who has been traveling with the brigade as it moved out this week.

“We won! We won! It’s over! We brought democracy to Iraq!” a soldier shouted as fellow soldiers celebrated their arrival in Kuwait this week.

For Staff Sgt. Heon Hong of Guam, the brigade’s departure, which began over the weekend, marked the end of his third tour of duty in Iraq.

“I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad we’re done with Iraq,” Hong said as his transport arrived this week. Hopefully, I never come back to Iraq.”

Another soldier, Sgt. Devon Scarey of Deltona, Fla., said simply, “It feels awesome.”

I don't think anyone can really express the depths of gratitude we must all share for the dangerous, dirty work these heroes did.

Major Garrett Notes: "And, to be clear, 50K US "non-combat" forces will remain in Iraq. Doesn't mean they won't face peril, danger."

Right. And I assume this distinction between "combat" and "non-combat" forces is a political contrivance anyway, at least largely.

Still, it's a milestone.

posted by Ace at 06:45 PM

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