1 00:00:08,661 --> 00:00:11,761 The President: On Tuesday, after more than seven years,

2 00:00:11,761 --> 00:00:14,661 the United States of America will end its combat mission in

3 00:00:14,661 --> 00:00:18,194 Iraq and take an important step forward in responsibly ending

4 00:00:18,194 --> 00:00:20,360 the Iraq war.

5 00:00:20,361 --> 00:00:24,361 As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war.

6 00:00:24,361 --> 00:00:26,928 As President, that's what I'm doing.

7 00:00:26,928 --> 00:00:30,695 I brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office.

8 00:00:30,695 --> 00:00:34,695 We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases.

9 00:00:34,695 --> 00:00:37,628 In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the

10 00:00:37,628 --> 00:00:39,594 lead for security.

11 00:00:39,594 --> 00:00:42,761 In the months ahead, our troops will continue to support and

12 00:00:42,761 --> 00:00:46,461 train Iraqi forces, partner with Iraqis in counterterrorism

13 00:00:46,461 --> 00:00:50,661 missions, and protect our civilians and military efforts.

14 00:00:50,661 --> 00:00:54,494 But the bottom line is this: the war is ending.

15 00:00:54,494 --> 00:00:56,828 Like any sovereign, independent nation,

16 00:00:56,828 --> 00:00:59,494 Iraq is free to chart its own course.

17 00:00:59,494 --> 00:01:03,761 And by the end of next year, all of our troops will be home.

18 00:01:03,761 --> 00:01:06,828 As we mark the end of America's combat mission in Iraq,

19 00:01:06,828 --> 00:01:10,961 a grateful nation must pay tribute to all who have served there.

20 00:01:10,961 --> 00:01:13,695 Because part of responsibly ending this war is meeting our

21 00:01:13,695 --> 00:01:16,728 responsibility to those who have fought it.

22 00:01:16,728 --> 00:01:21,094 The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now make up America's longest

23 00:01:21,094 --> 00:01:23,794 continuous combat engagement.

24 00:01:23,795 --> 00:01:27,161 For the better part of a decade, our troops and their families

25 00:01:27,161 --> 00:01:31,428 have served tour after tour with honor and heroism,

26 00:01:31,428 --> 00:01:34,360 risking and often giving their lives for the defense of our

27 00:01:34,361 --> 00:01:36,428 freedom and security.

28 00:01:36,428 --> 00:01:39,961 More than one million Americans in uniform have served in Iraq

29 00:01:39,961 --> 00:01:43,061 -- far more than any conflict since Vietnam.

30 00:01:43,061 --> 00:01:46,227 And more than one million who have served in both wars have

31 00:01:46,227 --> 00:01:49,528 now finished their service and joined the proud ranks of

32 00:01:49,528 --> 00:01:51,661 America's veterans.

33 00:01:51,661 --> 00:01:55,227 What this new generation of veterans must know is this: our

34 00:01:55,227 --> 00:01:58,461 nation's commitment to all who wear its uniform is a sacred

35 00:01:58,461 --> 00:02:02,461 trust that is as old as our republic itself.

36 00:02:02,461 --> 00:02:07,928 It is one that, as President, I consider a moral obligation to uphold.

37 00:02:07,928 --> 00:02:11,594 At the same time, these are new wars; with new missions,

38 00:02:11,594 --> 00:02:14,161 new methods, and new perils.

39 00:02:14,161 --> 00:02:16,261 And what today's veterans have earned --

40 00:02:16,261 --> 00:02:18,494 what they have every right to expect --

41 00:02:18,494 --> 00:02:22,294 is new care, new opportunity, and a new commitment to their

42 00:02:22,294 --> 00:02:24,528 service when they come home.

43 00:02:24,528 --> 00:02:27,727 That's why, from the earliest days of my Administration,

44 00:02:27,728 --> 00:02:30,895 we've been strengthening that sacred trust with our veterans

45 00:02:30,895 --> 00:02:34,061 by making our veterans policy more responsive and ready for

46 00:02:34,061 --> 00:02:35,928 this new century.

47 00:02:35,928 --> 00:02:38,194 We're building a 21st century VA,

48 00:02:38,194 --> 00:02:41,528 modernizing and expanding VA hospitals and health care,

49 00:02:41,528 --> 00:02:46,494 and adapting care to better meet the unique needs of female veterans.

50 00:02:46,494 --> 00:02:48,628 We're creating a single electronic health record that

51 00:02:48,628 --> 00:02:52,060 our troops and veterans can keep for life.

52 00:02:52,061 --> 00:02:54,561 We're breaking the claims backlog and reforming the

53 00:02:54,561 --> 00:02:57,127 process with new paperless systems.

54 00:02:57,127 --> 00:02:59,928 And we're building new wounded warrior facilities through the

55 00:02:59,928 --> 00:03:02,127 Department of Defense.

56 00:03:02,127 --> 00:03:04,528 But for many of our troops and their families,

57 00:03:04,528 --> 00:03:07,060 the war doesn't end when they come home.

58 00:03:07,061 --> 00:03:10,127 Too many suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic

59 00:03:10,127 --> 00:03:14,361 Stress Disorder -- the signature injuries of today's wars --

60 00:03:14,361 --> 00:03:17,828 and too few receive proper screening or care.

61 00:03:17,828 --> 00:03:19,628 Well, we're changing that.

62 00:03:19,628 --> 00:03:22,226 We're directing significant resources to treatment,

63 00:03:22,227 --> 00:03:24,294 hiring more mental health professionals,

64 00:03:24,294 --> 00:03:27,628 and making major investments in awareness, outreach,

65 00:03:27,628 --> 00:03:29,695 and suicide prevention.

66 00:03:29,695 --> 00:03:32,528 And we're making it easier for a vet with PTSD to get the

67 00:03:32,528 --> 00:03:35,027 benefits he or she needs.

68 00:03:35,027 --> 00:03:36,928 To make sure our troops, veterans,

69 00:03:36,928 --> 00:03:39,761 and their families have full access to the American Dreams

70 00:03:39,761 --> 00:03:44,261 they've fought to defend, we're working to extend them new opportunity.

71 00:03:44,261 --> 00:03:47,261 Michelle and Jill Biden have forged a national commitment to

72 00:03:47,261 --> 00:03:51,194 support military families while a loved one is away.

73 00:03:51,194 --> 00:03:54,226 We've guaranteed new support to caregivers who put their lives

74 00:03:54,227 --> 00:03:57,428 on hold for a loved one's long recovery.

75 00:03:57,428 --> 00:04:00,960 We're funding and implementing the Post-9/11 GI Bill,

76 00:04:00,961 --> 00:04:04,294 which is already helping some 300,000 veterans and their

77 00:04:04,294 --> 00:04:08,861 family members pursue their dream of a college education.

78 00:04:08,861 --> 00:04:12,293 And for veterans trying to find work in a very tough economy,

79 00:04:12,294 --> 00:04:15,994 we've devoted new resources to job training and placement.

80 00:04:15,994 --> 00:04:17,928 I've directed the federal government to hire more

81 00:04:17,928 --> 00:04:20,428 veterans, including disabled veterans,

82 00:04:20,428 --> 00:04:24,494 and I encourage every business in America to follow suit.

83 00:04:24,494 --> 00:04:27,494 This new generation of veterans has proven itself to be a new

84 00:04:27,494 --> 00:04:29,328 generation of leaders.

85 00:04:29,328 --> 00:04:33,126 They have unmatched training and skills; they're ready to work;

86 00:04:33,127 --> 00:04:37,628 and our country is stronger when we tap their extraordinary talents.

87 00:04:37,628 --> 00:04:38,760 New care.

88 00:04:38,761 --> 00:04:40,494 New opportunity.

89 00:04:40,494 --> 00:04:43,261 A new commitment to our veterans.

90 00:04:43,261 --> 00:04:46,061 If you'd like to send our troops and veterans a message of thanks

91 00:04:46,061 --> 00:04:49,695 and support, just visit whitehouse.gov.

92 00:04:49,695 --> 00:04:53,961 There, you'll find an easy way to upload your own text or video.

93 00:04:53,961 --> 00:04:56,695 Let them know that they have the respect and support of a

94 00:04:56,695 --> 00:04:58,428 grateful nation.

95 00:04:58,428 --> 00:05:02,561 That when their tour ends; when they see our flag;

96 00:05:02,561 --> 00:05:05,760 when they touch our soil; they'll always be home in an

97 00:05:05,761 --> 00:05:08,594 America that is forever here for them --

98 00:05:08,594 --> 00:05:11,294 just as they've been there for us.

99 00:05:11,294 --> 00:05:14,328 That's the promise our nation makes to those who serve.

100 00:05:14,328 --> 00:05:16,193 And as long as I'm Commander-in-Chief,

101 00:05:16,194 --> 00:05:18,594 it's a promise we will keep.

102 00:05:18,594 --> 00:05:19,728 Thank you.