Obama heralds the end of Combat Troops in Iraq

Looking back upon most of my childhood-teen years-adult years it has been occupied with a conflict with the Iraqi Government. I don't remember too much about Operation Desert Storm, hey I was only 7. But I do remember this feeling that after that we declared that we had defeated Iraq in a matter of days, that war was a thing of the past. And from that moment on, we had a growing suspicion of Saddam Hussein.

And then came 9/11. Initially, we did not know who attacked us. But most people did believe that it had to be Iraq. Some connection had to be made between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. President George W. Bush made that claim, and then he attacked Iraq in 2003. I was a senior in high school. I had thought, that the United States would topple Saddam a government would be set up it would work-- and then we'd be out in 6 months. That's what Bush said.

It was far from the truth...an age of innocence, an age of Isolationism was over. The War had unparalleled consequences that none of the public foresaw. Sectarian violence, Extreme Civilian Casualties and Loss of American life. Nearly 5,000 had shed their blood on Iraqi soil. There was a growing despair and growing resentment towards the reasoning of war.

After all, our reasons for going to war were to topple his regime because he had weapons of mass destruction. Soon to find out, there were no weapons of mass destruction. The People felt violated, we had lost confidence in our leader. George W. Bush's presidency was defined by Tactical and Misinformation by the Iraq War.

And then came the campaign. The Young Barack Obama, who had opposed the war from the beginning caught the eye of the youth and won the election.

And in a great sense of irony, the greatest opposition to the War, has been in charge of it for nearly 2 years...as it continues to wind down. And in the end, Obama looks much like Bush and praising him for his patriotism and his leadership during the years of the Iraq war. (double take.)

In a story that has defined our country for a decade, I can't help but think of where I stand now. Where all of us stand now.

I remember about 4 years ago, stating, "We will never win in Iraq, We should go home." and when Bush announced the surge I said, "That will never work."

Let me say, I was wrong.

I don't know if our rationale of going to war was right. I am still torn to the thought process of what would happen if we never had invaded. Did Saddam have WMDs? There are mysteries that we will never know--they will become pages of history and speculation that will fill history books and evening specials.But what I do know, is the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein. What I do know is that, a Democracy cradled in the Middle East that has a thriving economy, that does right--will transform the area. Only time will tell, the story isn't over.

But moreover, I believe that we cannot forget the sacrifice and the pain that our braved service men went through. I think it would be a disgrace if we remembered this war as a war that had no cause or meaning.

The work on the war on Terror will last for years and years to come. Afghanistan will remain to be a harder battle to wage. But just as we rise above our own problems, we will rise above the problems of Afghanistan.

So at the end of this short history and writing I want to say thank you. Thank you to the servicemen who defended freedom, Thank you to Former President George W. Bush, and thank you to President Barack Obama for ending our combat missions and bringing a responsible end to Iraq, just as you promised.

May we learn from History, and never repeat it again.