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Posted: 9:43 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009
By Jamie Dupree
Soon after the war in Iraq began in 2003, the President went to military bases around the U.S. to rally the troops and the public to support the operation.
One of the first stops for George W. Bush was the Marine Corps base at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, where he addressed thousands of troops and met with the families of some of the earliest casualties of the war.
"Our coalition has one goal for the future of Iraq -- to return that great country to it's own people," Mr. Bush said to cheers in April of 2003.
A little less than six years later, a new President goes to Camp LeJeune to lay out his plans to pull out US combat forces from Iraq by August of 2010.
"I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war," President Barack Obama told the Congress on Tuesday night in a speech.
Times have changed.
Camp LeJeune was Mr. Bush's first stop at a military base after the war began.
Camp LeJeune will be Mr. Obama's first stop for a speech on ending the war as President.
What's even more interesting is how both parties are receiving the news that he wants to withdraw US combat forces by August of next year, because some 35,000-50,000 forces may stay behind as advisers.
"I question whether such a large force is needed to combat any al Qaeda affiliates in Iraq or whether it will contribute to stability in the region," said war critic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who wants US forces gone as quick as possible.
On the GOP side, Republicans are unhappy because they fear the President may pull troops out too quickly and not leave enough behind, worried that security gains may be lost.
"He assured me that he will revisit his plan if the situation on the ground deteriorates and violence increases," said GOP Rep. John McHugh.
Change has definitely occurred at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest. You will be able to see and hear that today when a President talks about withdrawing US forces in front of a crowd of soldiers.
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