Obama announces troops withdrawal

But in the same speech, Mr Obama announced that the vast majority of those involved in the pullout will not leave this year. Mr Obama also said that tens of thousands of US personnel will remain behind afterward.

“The most important decisions that have to be made about Iraq’s future must now be made by Iraqis,” the President said at the massive Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, base, which is about to deploy thousands of troops to the US’s other war front, in Afghanistan.

“America can no longer afford to see Iraq in isolation from other priorities: we face the challenge of refocusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan; of relieving the burden on our military; and of rebuilding our struggling economy and these are challenges that we will meet,” Mr Obama said.

He applauded the military for its role in creating an improved situation in Iraq, where violence is down significantly in Baghdad and most of Iraq and US military deaths have plunged.

He also acknowledged that many problems remain in the country and said “there will be difficult days ahead”. Those include violence that will remain “a part of life” political instability and fundamental unresolved questions, a large displaced and destitute citizenry, tepid support for Iraq’s fragile government in the neighbourhoods and the stress of declining oil revenues.

But, the President said the US cannot solve all Iraq’s problems.

“We cannot rid Iraq of all who oppose America or sympathise with our adversaries,” he said.

“We cannot police Iraq’s streets until they are completely safe, nor stay until Iraq’s union is perfected. We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military, and will cost the American people nearly a trillion dollars.”

He emphasised that an end to the war does not mean the US plans to withdraw from its interests in the region. He promised intensified diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.

“The end of the war in Iraq will enable a new era of American leadership and engagement in the Middle East,” Mr Obama said.

The plan to remove US combat forces by August 2010 brought mixed reactions among Iraqis tonight – some applauding the withdrawal, but others questioning whether Iraq’s security forces were up to the task alone.

Several Iraqi TV stations had live coverage of Mr Obama’s speech.

“Iraq will regain independence and sovereignty, and the United States will get rid of many military and economic problems,” said Raji Abbas, a Shiite from the southern city of Najaf, where US forces engaged in intense battles with militias in 2004.

“But, before leaving Iraq, the US Army should do their best to train and equip the Iraqi security forces so that they can confront the dangers that are threatening the country,” he said.

The pace of withdrawal suggests that the bulk of the current US military presence in Iraq – some 140,000 troops – will remain in Iraq through nationwide elections later this year.

Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki has said he welcomes the withdrawal and has urged it be done “orderly and responsibly.”

Mr Obama called Mr Maliki with the details of the plan before delivering his speech, White House officials said.

Sunni lawmaker Mustafa al-Hiti said Mr Obama’s plan met “the aspirations of many Iraqis who want to see the occupying troops out of their country”.

“We have enough confidence in our security forces and we think that there is no chance for a new round of violence in Iraq,” he said.

In Saddam Hussein’s hometown, Tikrit, 40-year-old Sunni government worker Hazim Ali Hamid was stung by Mr Obama’s praise to US forces for removing Saddam.

“But, in fact, the US forces achieved one thing: That is destroying Iraq ... We hope that the US soldiers will leave our country sooner rather than later in order to put an end to the bloodiest pages in Iraq’s history,” he said.