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| War In Iraq |
Secretary of Defense United States, Leon Panetta, after nine years of campaigning, 4,500 Americans killed, 32 000 injured and over $ 800 billion, closed on Thursday officially the Iraq war, according maintained, merited penalty in blood and treasure for having taking this country towards democracy.
Panetta dropped from military aircraft in Baghdad as the leader of the U.S. war in Iraq, but leave as a more remote from global officials hope to collaborate with the country as it seeks its place in the region and the world, reported The Associated Press.
More than 100 000 Iraqis have died since the U.S. invasion in 2003, according to the district website Iraq Body Count. The bombings and gun battles have been held regularly. And experts fear that the Iraqi security forces are incapable of defending the country against foreign threats.
However, Panetta said earlier this week that the war "has not been in vain."
Ceremony in Baghdad
Panetta and several other diplomats, military and U.S. defense officials on Thursday participated in a symbolic ceremony during which the flag was lowered expeditionary force joint US-Iraq and withdrew or "boxed" according to the military tradition of U.S. army. That flag was wound around the pole and covered with a camouflage. Will be transported to the U.S. in those conditions.
"Leave with great pride, a pride durable," Panetta told the troops. "Rest assured that your sacrifice has helped the Iraqi people to begin a new chapter in its history."
During a stopover this week in Afghanistan, Panetta said the expeditionary mission was aimed at "doing the sovereign and independent and able to govern and ensure their safety."
This, he added, is "a tribute to all: to all those who fought in that war, all that blood spilled in that war, and all who are dedicated to ensuring that we could accomplish that mission."
Critical pessimistic
The Iraqis made a more pessimistic assessment. "Americans will leave behind a country destroyed," said Mariam Khazim of Sadr City. "Americans do not let modern schools and large factories behind them. On the contrary, left thousands of widows and orphans."
U.S. troops on Thursday closed its headquarters in Iraq and lowered the flag hoisted in place nine years ago, symbolically marking the end of his presence in the country that invaded to topple Saddam Hussein and create a "new Middle East" , reported the French news agency (AFP).
"It's a historic event for the past eight years, eight months and 26 days, as deputy commander, gave the order to the troops advanced to the third division to cross the border," said General Lloyd Austin, who commands U.S. forces in that country and has been named deputy chief of staff.
The military had solemnly lowered the flag of the U.S. forces in Iraq (USF-I), a few days before the departure of the last American soldiers.
The invasion of Iraq by the United States without the UN, was to culminate in the fall of Saddam Hussein, 24 years after coming to power.
Uphill
The Americans rebuilt from scratch the army, police and institutions, while reactivating the moribund economy by encouraging the consumption duty-free imports of cars and appliances, even though basic services like electricity and drinking water were still random.
It is from 2007 and especially 2008, when America was able to change the course of the war that was lost and sent 170 000 soldiers to the field to paralyze the action of the insurgents.
Should also encourage the return of Sunni tribal leaders incensed by the abuses committed by Al Qaeda fighters, initially welcomed as protectors against the Shiites who were seized power.
U.S. President Barack Obama hailed "an extraordinary success, which took nine years," and stressed "the hard work and sacrifice" that were necessary.
"We know perfectly well the high price of this war. More than one and half million Americans served in Iraq. More than 30 000 of them were injured and wounded are only visible injuries," he said referring to the psychological damage suffered some veterans.
Astronomical cost
Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed, as thousands of coalition soldiers in eight years of a war that also consumed billions of dollars: the cost of conflict in Iraq has been astronomical.
HUMAN COST
Since the U.S. invasion of the country on March 19, 2003, at least 126,000 Iraqi civilians were killed due to conflict, as Neta Crawford, a professor at Boston University. To this we must add 20 000 soldiers and Iraqi police and more than 19 000 insurgents.
According to the British IraqBodyCount.org, civilian losses would amount to between 104.035 and 113.680 in 2003.
On the side of the coalition, the United States lost 4.408 troops, 3.480 in combat. About 32 000 soldiers were wounded, according to Pentagon figures. The UK lost 179 soldiers.
Around 1.75 million Iraqis are refugees in neighboring countries or have been forced to move in your country, the UN says.
MILES OF SOLDIERS DEPLOYED
At the beginning of the operation "Iraqi Freedom" ("Iraqi Freedom"), had deployed 150 000 U.S. troops in the country, over 120 000 that supported the operation from outside. Also participating in the invasion more than 40 000 British soldiers.
Their numbers began to fall regularly and reached 165 000 in late 2006, before Washington decided to send 30 000 fresh men to try to stem the explosion of violence.
In September 2010, the operation ends, but 50 thousand U.S. troops remain in the country to help train the Iraqi army. Is scheduled to leave the country later this month.
The Financial Cost
The Pentagon has spent about $ 770 billion since 2003 in operations in Iraq. To this must be added the indeterminate part of the Pentagon budget has also served to finance the war.
We must also add the cost of U.S. aid to Iraq, to take care of the wounded veterans.
On veterans, the net costs resulting from the Iraqi operation are difficult to separate from the operations in Afghanistan. There is a total about 1.25 million veterans. In fact, statistics published by the U.S. government do not distinguish between the two.
In late 2010, the U.S. had already spent about $ 32 billion in medical care for the wounded, pensions validity, which are for life for veterans.
The future costs are exponential. Linda Bilmes, a professor at Harvard University, believes that medical and pension costs between now and 2055 for veterans will be between $ 346 thousand and $ 469 000.
