Huge U.S. air base returned to Iraqi control - Out of 505 bases in Iraq US forces have 11 left

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Huge_U.S._air_base_returned_to_Iraqi_control.html?cid=31529396

Nov 9, 2011 - 11:09 Huge U.S. air base returned to Iraqi control

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military has handed over to the Iraqi government its 2nd largest Iraq base, a joint army and air force complex that housed some 36,000 American troops and contractors at the peak of the war, U.S. officials said.

Joint Base Balad was returned to Iraqi control on Tuesday with the departure of the last members of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing as the United States continued the withdrawal of all forces from Iraq by year end.

About 30,000 troops remain in the country, which the United States invaded in 2003. Washington has announced that it will withdraw all its troops by the end of this year after failing to agree with Baghdad on a plan to keep a scaled-down presence. snip

From a peak of 505 bases in Iraq, U.S. forces have 11 left.

[DCBob]

1. Very very good. We are finally getting out of there!

Never should have been there in the first place. What a fking waste.

[madokie]

2. All the lives lost over a lie

several lies in fact told by several that should be charged as war criminals

[Obamanaut]

4. Let us not forget the continual extension of funding by congress for the 'effort.' nt

[Marblehead]

3. the billion dollar

embassy we built there will take 15,000 to man it...