President Barack Obama marked the end of U.S. combat in Iraq with a primetime speech from the Oval Office, Tuesday. Read a play-by-play of his comments below.
8:00 p.m. - President Obama will address the nation entarily about the end of combat operations in Iraq.
8:01 p.m. - He will do so from the newly redecorated the Oval Office.
8:02 p.m. - President Obama mentions President Bush: "From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. " This is expected to be his only mention of the former president.
8:03 p.m. - "Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested."
8:03 p.m. - At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service."
8:04 p.m. - So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country."
8:04 p.m. - Because of our troops and civilians -and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people - Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain."
8:05 p.m. - "We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq."
8:05 p.m. - "Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations."
8:06 p.m. - It's not completely over: "Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not."
8:06 p.m. - Obama calls on Iraq's government: "Tonight, I encourage Iraq's leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: the Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States."
8:07 p.m. - We've heard all along that this will never end with just a military solution: "As our military draws down, our dedicated civilians -diplomats, aid workers, and advisors -are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and the world."
8:07 p.m. - Obama promotes Vice President Biden's speech in Iraq for later today.
8:08 p.m. - "Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest- it is in our own."
8:08 p.m. - "We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people -a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization."
8:09 p.m. - "Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page."
8:09 p.m. - I stand corrected, Obama just mentioned Bush again: "This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It's well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush's support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security."
8:09 p.m. - "I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page"
8:10 p.m. - "There were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq's future."
8:11 p.m. - After 10 minutes of talking about Iraq, President Obama's speech transitions to talking about Afghanistan.
8:11 p.m. - "The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead." Interesting.
8:12 p.m. - "As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists."
8:12 p.m. - "And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense."
8:12 p.m. - "Within Afghanistan, I have ordered the deployment of additional troops who-under the command of General David Petraeus -are fighting to break the Taliban's momentum. As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and secure their own future."
8:13 p.m. - On getting out of Afghanistan: "The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. "
8:13 p.m. - A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction -we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.
8:14 p.m. - Now, he's talking about domestic issues: "For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation's long-term competitiveness is put at risk."
8:14 p.m. - "We must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for -the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it."
8:15 p.m. - "We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil." Wait a minute... I thought this speech was about Iraq?
8:15 p.m. - "As long as I am president, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust."
8:16 p.m. - Now he's talking about the new GI bill: "we are funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II- including my grandfather- become the backbone of our middle class, so today's servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it."
8:17 p.m. - The drawdown: "Two weeks ago, America's final combat brigade in Iraq -the Army's Fourth Stryker Brigade -journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles made the trip from Baghdad, the last of them passing into Kuwait in the early morning hours."
8:17 p.m. - "Over seven years before, American troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways, but this time no shots were fired. It was just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home."
8:17 p.m. - "The soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when the war began. Many have served multiple tours of duty, far from their families who bore a heroic burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband's embrace or a mother's kiss."
8:18 p.m. - "In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. "
8:19 p.m. - "Every American who serves joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar - Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are better than our own."
8:19 p.m. - "Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be travelling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead."
8:19 p.m. - The end. That was Obama's 2nd address from the Oval Office.