Americas

Americas

Obama calls for unity as Iraq War ends

17 December 2011 22:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday welcomed troops home from the ending war in Iraq, saying it is time for the country to stand as one and face its economic challenges, as the partisan battles in Washington persists, APA reports.

In his weekly address, Obama marked the end of the Iraq War, saying U.S. troops are now preparing to make their final march across the border and out of Iraq.

"Iraq’s future will be in the hands of its own people. Our war there will be over. All of our troops will be out of Iraq," said Obama.

He continued to praise the troops by saying they don’t "see themselves or each other as Democrats first or Republicans first," but rather "as Americans first," a poke to the bitter partisan fight that has been raging on in Washington for all year.

"For all our challenges, they remind us that there is nothing we can’t do when we stick together," said Obama.

"This cannot be a country where division and discord stand in the way of our progress," Obama said. "This is a moment where we must come together to ensure that every American has the chance to work for a decent living, own their own home, send their kids to college, and secure a decent retirement."

Over the past year, the president and his Democratic allies have fought bitter battles with Republicans on budget, deficit, debt and ways to stimulate the economy. The federal government was almost shutdown and nearly defaulted on its debt, and was faced with credit downgrade during the course of the year.