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General Lloyd Austin the U . S . Forces

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Iraq Commanding general in case the U .

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S . Forces Iraq Colours during a

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ceremony today in Baghdad marking the

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end of a nearly nine year U . S .

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Military mission in Iraq . We look back

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at the sacrifices made by so many

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americans and so many Iraqis . But we

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also look forward to in Iraq That is

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sovereign , secure and self reliant .

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For over 20 years , Iraq has been a

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defining part of our professional and

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our personal lives . The road we have

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traveled was long and it was tough .

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Our journey was a lesson encouraged , a

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test of our character and affirmation

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of shared sacrifice and a monument to

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sheer will . This was one of the most

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complex logistical undertakings in US

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military history . 50,000 US troops

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withdrawn seamlessly , dozens of bases

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closed or handed over millions of

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pieces of equipment . It had to be

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transferred all while maintaining the

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security of our forces and the security

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of the Iraqi people . After more than

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eight years we have seen great progress ,

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progress that has enabled our military

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to transition the lead for U . S .

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Efforts in Iraq to our partners in the

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embassy and progress that has given the

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Iraqi people opportunities that they

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have not seen in their lifetime . But

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in the end this is not about the United

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States rather today is about Iraq .

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This is the time for Iraq to look

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forward . This is an opportunity for

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Iraq to forge ahead on the path to

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security and prosperity . This is not

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the end . This is truly the

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beginning . Air Force Master Sergeant

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Gene Taylor say , their Airbase Iraq .