Iraq

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December 29, 2011 | 9:16 AM | By

Parade for Returning Iraq War Vets? Your Responses

Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo / Department of Defense

The mission flag is cased at the end of mission ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq December 15, 2011

Home Post put the question out to readers yesterday: Would you like to see a parade to celebrate the end of the Iraq War? The question was triggered by criticism from GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry while on the campaign trail. He slammed President Obama for not organizing a parade in honor of the troops who fought in the Iraq War.

The KPBS web page got several responses to the question. David65 wrote:

“That’s quite a question. What did we win? The country has been at civil war since ’06 despite our presence. They’re still in turmoil. We never found WMDs. I think the veterans would appreciate improved healthcare versus a parade. At least that’s something they can use.”

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FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Afghan war, Afghanistan, end of Iraq War, Gulf War, Hall of Heroes, Iraq, President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, ticker-tape parade, Veterans, war, War in Iraq, World War II
December 27, 2011 | 3:19 PM | By

Family Reunion with a Christmas Twist (Video)

I love videos of surprise military family reunions – and the more creative, the better. My previous favorite was the Army dad who wrapped himself in a giant box, hiding until his children discovered him by unwrapping the giant present left for them.

But there’s a new video making the rounds, put together by CBS News. And even though Christmas is over, I think you won’t mind watching this holiday-themed homecoming. It darn near made Scott Pelley cry:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Spouses & Families, Bethany Arnold, Christmas, Defense Contractors, Iraq, Santa Claus, Scott Pelley, Steve Hartman, Tar River Elementary, Wyndal Arnold
December 22, 2011 | 12:29 PM | By

Troops Home From Iraq in Time for Christmas (Video)

The last troops to leave Iraq have returned home to the United States. The Pentagon Channel put together this montage of these servicemembers reuniting with their families, just in time for Christmas:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, War, "I'll Be Home for Christmas", Christmas, Iraq, Iraq War, Military Families, military homecomings, military reunions, Operation New Dawn, War in Iraq
December 19, 2011 | 3:10 PM | By

New Trick for Donkey Adopted by Pendleton Marines (Video)

Facebook

Smoke the Donkey

Smoke the donkey, born and raised in Iraq, made such a strong impression on the Camp Pendleton Marines who met him during their deployment there that they pulled all sorts of strings to bring him back to the United States.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

In 2008, retired Marine Col. John Folsom and Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Logistics Group found the donkey at Camp Taqaddum in Anbar province. The animal quickly became a favorite. His name comes from his color and the fact that he once snatched a cigarette from a Marine.

Smoke the donkey now lives at Take Flight Farms in Omaha. He works as a therapy animal with the Wounded Warriors Family Support organization.

Smoke, who has almost 1,500 fans on his Facebook page, recently learned a new trick that his guardians posted on YouTube. Go Smoke!

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Iraq, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Anbar province, Camp Pendleton, Col. John Folsom, Iraq, Iraq War, Marine Corps, Smoke the Donkey, Take Flight Farms, War in Iraq, Wounded Warriors Family Support
December 15, 2011 | 2:21 PM | By

What Do You Think of the War’s End?

U.S. Army / Flickr

U.S. Soldiers in Iraq in 2007

Today is considered the official end of the war in Iraq. According to the Associated Press, the official death toll of American servicemembers in the war is 4,485. An estimated 32,226 members of the U.S. military have been injured. USA Today tallies the financial cost of the war as $800 billion.

It was the members of the military, and their families, who paid the highest price during the Iraq War. And I want to know if you think it was worth it. Are you pleased that the war in Iraq has been declared over? Or did you want to see a different outcome?

I’d love to hear from you.

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq War, Military Families, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, War in Iraq
December 15, 2011 | 12:38 PM | By

The Last Two Military Working Dogs in Iraq (Video)

Today may mark the official end of the war in Iraq, but there are still roughly 5,500 U.S. troops in the country…and two military working dogs. Geri and Rambo are winding down their service at Sather Air Base in Iraq – a bittersweet reality for their handlers. Take a look:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, War, Geri and Rambo, Iraq, Iraq War, military working dogs, Sather Air Base, U.S. Air Force, War in Iraq
December 15, 2011 | 11:16 AM | By

Former Commander in Iraq Sings Carol for Troops (Video)

Anyone who reads Home Post knows I have a special place in my heart for Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Report. Last night on The Report, Colbert had as his guest United States Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno. Odierno commanded United States Joint Forces Command in Iraq between October 2010 and August 2011. To see Colbert’s entire interview with Odierno, click here.

What I found most moving, however, was the Christmas carol sung by both Colbert and Odierno to United States servicemembers returning home from Iraq. Even my husband got a little emotional, and virtually nothing makes him cry. Take a look:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, "I'll Be Home for Christmas", Bing Crosby, Christmas, Christmas carols, Christmas songs, General Raymond Odierno, Iraq, Iraq War, Military Families, Operation Iraqi Freedome, Operation New Dawn, satire, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, War in Iraq, World War II
December 15, 2011 | 9:40 AM | By

Low Key Ceremony Marks Official End to Iraq War (Video)

Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo / Department of Defense

The mission flag is cased at the end of mission ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq December 15, 2011

The war in Iraq is officially over. Today in Baghdad Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey helped mark the end of the United States military’s mission in Iraq with a low key ceremony.

Dempsey told troops gathered for the ceremony:

“I remember leaving my family again to end Saddam Hussein’s oppression of the Iraqi people. And now today I stand here with the very heart of my family, my wife, Deanie, to bear witness to what our sons and daughters — to what your sons and daughters — have achieved.”

Then the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, ordered troops to encase the U.S. Forces Iraq colors. While this action brought an official close to the almost nine year war, the Pentagon reports there are still roughly 5,500 servicemembers still in Iraq. They have until December 31 to leave the country.

There were 144,000 troops in Iraq when President Barack Obama took office.

Here’s a report from Great Britain’s Telegraph TV showing the Baghdad ceremony that symbolized the war’s end:

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq War, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, U.S. Forces Iraq colors, War in Iraq
December 12, 2011 | 2:39 PM | By

Once Thriving U.S. Bases in Iraq Now Ghost Towns (Video)

NBC Nightly News

U.S. bases in Iraq now vacant

President Barack Obama met with Iraqi President Nuri al-Maliki today to promise the leader that the United States would continue to stand by Iraq as U.S. troops complete their withdrawal from the country, according to Reuters.

The president told al-Maliki in front of reporters:

“As we end this war and as Iraq faces its future, the Iraqi people must know that you will not stand alone. You have a strong and enduring partner in the United States of America.”

It’s estimated almost one million United States servicemembers have served in Iraq since that war began in 2003. Now Department of Defense officials say just a few thousand troops remain, with virtually all U.S. military slated to leave by year’s end. NBC News recently visited once thriving military bases in Iraq, to discover most now resemble ghost towns:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq troop withdrawal, Iraq War, Iraqi President Nuri al-Maliki, President Barack Obama
December 8, 2011 | 11:37 AM | By

Watch Live Air Force Briefing on Dover AFB Mortuary Scandal

The Air Force is holding a media briefing at 1:00 PST on the mishandling of servicemember remains at the Dover Air Force Base mortuary. You can watch it live here:

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Iraq, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, Afghanistan, Afghanistan War, Air Force briefing, Air Force Inspector General, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, body parts scandal, Dover Air Force Base, Dover Mortuary Panel, fallen servicemembers, Iraq, Iraq War, Leon Panetta, life in the military, Spouses & Families, U.S. Air Force, Veterans, war