Marines End Role in Iraq

US Marine Corps ends role in Iraq

Vice President Joe Biden (C) poses for the media with top U.S. military commander in Iraq General Raymond Odierno (L) and U.S. Ambassador Chris Hill at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad January 22, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The U.S. Marine Corps wrapped up its role Saturday in Iraq, handing over duties to the Army and signaling the beginning of an accelerated withdrawal of American troops as the U.S. turns its focus away from the waning Iraqi war to a growing one in Afghanistan.

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If all goes as planned, the last remaining Marines will be followed out by tens of thousands of soldiers in the coming months. President Barack Obama has ordered all but 50,000 troops out of the country by Aug. 31, 2010, with most to leave after the March 7 parliamentary election.

The remaining troops will leave by the end of 2011 under a U.S.-Iraqi security pact....>>>>>

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Sadly many, if not most, will be sent to our other long running occupation, that stopped being anything about Sept. 11th 2001 Long Ago, nor even helping rebuild the war torn Afghanistan, that left with the drums of War to Iraq!!