Rep. Shuler Joins President Obama at Ft. Bragg to Mark End of Iraq War

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) joined President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Ft. Bragg to mark the end of the Iraq war.

“I am proud to stand with President Obama at Ft. Bragg today to honor our troops for their extraordinary service and sacrifice by welcoming them home from Iraq,” said Rep. Shuler. “The conflict in Iraq has cost 4,500 American lives and nearly $1 trillion. Our troops have served our nation bravely and honorably over the course of this 9-year war, but the time has come for our service members to return home and for the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny.”

More than 200 soldiers based at Ft. Bragg were killed in the Iraq war. In October 2011, President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011. The remaining U.S. soldiers in Iraq are scheduled to leave the country within the next few days.

“I applaud President Obama’s leadership to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home once and for all,” said Rep. Shuler. “Our nation is ready to see this chapter closed, and the American people stand behind the President’s decision. The focus must now be on ensuring our returning troops have the tools they need to transition back to civilian life, which means access to good jobs and the high quality health care, educational, and training benefits our men and women in uniform have earned and deserve.”
 
Ten service members from the Western Nor