Last Combat Unit Leaves Iraq

[Civicsman]

The U.S. military says the last American combat unit is leaving Iraq, as the August 31 deadline approaches for U.S. troops to end combat operations in that country.

The last of the unit's vehicles were crossing the border into Kuwait early Thursday.

About 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq as a transitional force. They will focus on training Iraqi soldiers and performing counter-terrorism operations.

U.S. forces have carried out combat operations in Iraq for more than seven years in Operation Iraqi Freedom launched by former President George W. Bush. Current President Barack Obama has set a goal of removing all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news...101036689.html