No dia 14 de dezembro de 2011 o presidente do Estados Unidos da América Barack Obama anuncia o fim da Guerra do Iraque. Publico aqui o discurso integro em inglês.
"Good
evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission
in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our
nation here at home.
I know this
historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We
have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and
painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that
we are trying to build for our nation – a future of lasting peace and long-term
prosperity may seem beyond our reach.
But this
milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours
to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also
serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to
sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.
From this
desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of
military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm
a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare
threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of
thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at
home was tested.
These are
the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest
wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst those shifting tides. At every
turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve.
As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am
awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.
The
Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They
defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and
coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought
block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted
tactics to protect the Iraqi people; trained Iraqi Security Forces; and took
out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians –and because of the
resilience of the Iraqi people – Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new
destiny, even though many challenges remain.
So tonight,
I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation
Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for
the security of their country.
This was my
pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I
announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while
redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its
government and people. That is what we have done. We have removed nearly
100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases
to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.
This
completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S.
troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved
into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens.
Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have
been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken
the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations.
This year
also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout. A caretaker
administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on the results of
that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq’s leaders to move forward with a sense
of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and
accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there
should be no doubt: the Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United
States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is
not.
Going
forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a
different mission: advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces; supporting
Iraqi troops in targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our
civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S.
troops will leave by the end of next year. As our military draws down, our
dedicated civilians –diplomats, aid workers, and advisors –are moving into the
lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political
disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and
the world. And that is a message that Vice President Biden is delivering to the
Iraqi people through his visit there today.
This new
approach reflects our long-term partnership with Iraq–one based upon mutual
interests, and mutual respect. Of course, violence will not end with our combat
mission. Extremists will continue to set off bombs, attack Iraqi civilians and
try to spark sectarian strife. But ultimately, these terrorists will fail to
achieve their goals. Iraqis are a proud people. They have rejected sectarian
war, and they have no interest in endless destruction. They understand that, in
the end, only Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets.
Only Iraqis can build a democracy within their borders. What America can do,
and will do, is provide support for the Iraqi people as both a friend and a
partner.
Ending this
war is not only in Iraq’s interest– it is in our own. The United States has
paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have
sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent
vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered
because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people –a belief that out of the
ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization.
Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq,
we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.
As we do, I
am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too,
it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George
W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset.
Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of
country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who
supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in
appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future.
The
greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our
differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many
challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security than our
fight against al Qaeda.
Americans
across the political spectrum supported the use of force against those who
attacked us on 9/11. Now, as we approach our 10th year of combat in
Afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking tough questions
about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of what’s at stake. As we
speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains
anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt,
dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving
as a base for terrorists. And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able
to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19
months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders –and hundreds of Al Qaeda's extremist
allies–have been killed or captured around the world.
Within
Afghanistan, I have ordered the deployment of additional troops who–under the
command of General David Petraeus –are fighting to break the Taliban’s
momentum. As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a
limited time to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and
secure their own future. But, as was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans
what they must ultimately do for themselves. That’s why we are training Afghan
Security Forces and supporting a political resolution to Afghanistan’s
problems. And, next July, we will begin a transition to Afghan responsibility.
The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the
ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake: this
transition will begin – because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor
the Afghan people’s.
Indeed, one
of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American influence around the
world is not a function of military force alone. We must use all elements of
our power –including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of
America’s example –to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must
project a vision of the future that is based not just on our fears, but also on
our hopes –a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the
world, but also the limitless possibility of our time.
Today, old
adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New
markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas. A new push for peace
in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to
move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free
world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer
hatred and destruction –we will also lead among those who are willing to work
together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.
That effort
must begin within our own borders. Throughout our history, America has been
willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas,
understanding its link to our own liberty and security. But we have also
understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly
anchored in our prosperity at home. And the bedrock of that prosperity must be
a growing middle class.
Unfortunately,
over the last decade, we have not done what is necessary to shore up the
foundation of our own prosperity. We have spent over a trillion dollars at war,
often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed
investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too
long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base
to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class
families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term
competitiveness is put at risk.
And so at
this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges
at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men
and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they
faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by
coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many
generations have fought for –the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is
willing to work for it and reach for it.
Our most
urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who
have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give
all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills
that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries
that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the
innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture
the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in
the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central
responsibility as President.
Part of
that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who
have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will
maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do
whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is
a sacred trust. That is why we have already made one of the largest increases
in funding for veterans in decades. We are treating the signature wounds of
today’s wars post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, while providing
the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we are
funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue
the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought
World War II- including my grandfather- become the backbone of our middle
class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their
gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly
is standing by those who have fought it.
Two weeks
ago, America’s final combat brigade in Iraq –the Army’s Fourth Stryker Brigade
–journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of
vehicles made the trip from Baghdad, the last of them passing into Kuwait in
the early morning hours. Over seven years before, American troops and coalition
partners had fought their way across similar highways, but this time no shots
were fired. It was just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home.
Of course,
the soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when the war began. Many
have served multiple tours of duty, far from their families who bore a heroic
burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband’s embrace or a mother’s
kiss. Most painfully, since the war began fifty-five members of the Fourth
Stryker Brigade made the ultimate sacrifice –part of over 4,400 Americans who
have given their lives in Iraq. As one staff sergeant said, “I know that to my
brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot.”
Those
Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our
people for over two centuries. Along with nearly 1.5 million Americans who have
served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for people they never knew. They
stared into the darkest of human creations –war –and helped the Iraqi people
seek the light of peace.
In an age
without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our
partners and the strength of our own nation. Every American who serves joins an
unbroken line of heroes that stretches from Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo
Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar – Americans who have fought to see
that the lives of our children are better than our own. Our troops are the
steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be travelling through
rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond
the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.
Thank you.
May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America, and all who
serve her."
