Local military, families happy Iraq war over

When I took office, nearly 150,000 American troops were deployed in Iraq, and I pledged to end this war, responsibly. Today, only several thousand troops remain there, and more are coming home every day.


This is a season of homecomings, and military families across America are being reunited for the holidays. In the coming days, the last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq, with honor and with their heads held high. After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month.


Today, I’m proud to welcome Prime Minister Maliki -- the elected leader of a sovereign, self-reliant and democratic Iraq. We're here to mark the end of this war; to honor the sacrifices of all those who made this day possible; and to turn the page -- begin a new chapter in the history between our countries -- a normal relationship between sovereign nations, an equal partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect.


Iraq faces great challenges, but today reflects the impressive progress that Iraqis have made. Millions have cast their ballots -- some risking or giving their lives -- to vote in free elections. The Prime Minister leads Iraq’s most inclusive government yet. Iraqis are working to build institutions that are efficient and independent and transparent.


With units still in Kuwait and Afghanistan, Odom said the work is not done, but the efforts in Iraq have helped bring some peace to Iraqis since the beginning of the war and the search for weapons of mass destruction in 2003.
“It’s too unstable of a situation right now to pull everyone out,” he said about units in Afghanistan, where the battalion is expected to deploy in August 2012.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, has shown his support for the military and the battalion in the past, sharing in the return in October and commenting from Washington about the war’s end in Iraq.
“It’s time. Iraq is no longer a safe haven for terrorist training, planning or transit,” Brady stated in an email to The Courier. “In my view our American fighting forces have been magnificent, and have done everything possible to help the Iraqi government and security forces stand up on their own. Plus I don’t want our troops deployed anywhere where they fight with one hand tied behind their back, and that’s the case now in Iraq.”
Despite the safety of troops returning by Dec. 31, Kinney said she knows the happiness she holds in her heart is immense with her husband safe at home, but she struggles with her joy knowing that many more troops have yet to return.
“It’s hard having a joyful perspective, not knowing if the war’s truly over because not all of our troops are home yet,” she said. “Being from a military family, until all of the troops are home it’s hard to rejoice.”
While some Americans see the end of war in Iraq as leaving a job unfinished or unsuccessful, Odom said that leaving was similar to walking away from a job partially finished but reflected on the positive results of protecting civilians from terrorists and helping them establish a better place than before American troops arrived.
“Is there still work to be done? Absolutely, but hopefully the Iraqi police and military take it over and maintain stability,” Odom said.