Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Mission Accomplished: The Iraq War Is "Over"
By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 15, 2011
Modified Dec 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 15, 2011
Modified Dec 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Nine years later the Iraq War ended with a whimper yesterday. "After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said at a ceremony at Baghdad’s international airport yesterday. "To be sure, the cost was high—in blood and treasure for the United States, and for the Iraqi people. Those lives were not lost in vain."
Though troops were stipulated to leave by December 31, today's surprise ceremony effectively ended the war two weeks early at 1:15 p.m. Baghdad time (5:15 a.m. EST). "No words, no ceremony can provide full tribute to the sacrifices which have brought this day to pass," Panetta said. "I’m reminded of what President Lincoln said in Gettysburg, about a different war, in a different time. His words echo through the years as we pay tribute to the fallen in this war: 'The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'"
Since the war started more than 1 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq. Of those, more than 32,226 have been wounded and 4,487 have been killed. Over that time the war cost the U.S. more than $800 billion dollars and left over 100,000 Iraqi civilians dead (exact numbers aren't something the Pentagon is rushing to give out). About 4,000 U.S. troops still remain in Iraq, their withdrawal expected to be complete by the end of the month, officials say.
Tagged
iraq
Iraq War
leon panetta
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
The first-time Democrat says it’s still “a toss-up race” between her and incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
News
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .