According to the latest news the US Flag Ceremony Puts An End To Iraq Operation after no less than nine years. Baghdad was the place where the flag was finally lowered. In the upcoming weeks the 4,000 soldiers will return home leaving Iraq as US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta claims with pride, he also added that, “After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real,”.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani also shared his opinion about the nine years old collaboration, “They have been difficult years, […] We have had some successes together. We had some failures. We have some mishaps.[...]I think we are all happy that the American soldiers are returning home safely to their families and we are also confident that the Iraqi people and their armed forces, police, are in a position now to take care of their own security.”. Everyone remembers that this extremely dangerous conflict which led to the death of 4,500 US soldiers and 100,000 Iraqis was generated by the Bush administration back in 2003.

The election of Barack Obama marked a change in the policy of the US. Troops gradually left Iraq until the preset flag ceremony which has put an end to a tragic period, President Obama still considers a success. In his speech in North Carolina he states that, “Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success, [...]The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages.”.

Image courtesy of BBC News

A suicide car bomber killed 11 people and injured at least 15 more at a military base in the North of Baghdad in the Taji Monday town. The bomb was detonated at the entrance of a jail that holds al Qaeda, Mehdi Army militia and other prisoners. The car was detonated at 8:00 am and the reason is believed to be an attempt to undermine the government. Among the victims of the bombardment were policemen, security forces guarding the prison, and prison employees, according to officials.

”We heard a big explosion we thought it was a rocket, but we heard on our radios that it was a car bomb targeting the main reception area for the jail,” guard Mushtaq Kadaim said, Reuters reports. “When we arrived at the scene there was no car, and the wounded people told us it was a suicide bomber. There is a lot of damage to the place and many cars are burned. The flesh of the victims is stuck to the front of the cars and nearby walls,” he stated.

Attacks like this one sadly common, the latest attack being the third major one in last five days. Authorities state that a total of  258 people were killed in October and Iraqi and U.S. military officials believe that the number of attacks will increase as American troops depart.

Troops will return home by the end of the year as President Obama revealed. As he claimed at a press conference: “After nearly 9 years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,”. Soldiers soon leave the Western Asian country and all troops will be home by January 1. The President further added that, “The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward, and our troops are finally coming home,…they will definitely be home for the holidays.”

The war in Iraq deprived the US from 4,400 troops and cost more than $700 billion. In spite of the fact that Iraqui and US officials have concerns about the complete withdrawal of troops, however as the Associated Press revealed on Sunday, “Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans have refused to stay without it.”. Troops constantly return home from the Asian country, however 40,000 “non-combat” troops are still in Iraque and as the President claimed, “Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their country’s security”. He also added that from now on, “It will be a normal relationship between sovereign nations, an equal partnership based on mutual interest and mutual respect,”.

The future collaborations will include a complex training plan for Iraquian people and troops. Mr.Obama said that, “As I told Prime Minister Maliki, we will continue discussions on how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces, again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world,…After all, there will be some difficult days ahead for Iraq and the United States will continue to have an interest in an Iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant.”

Militants in Iraq blew up police homes killing three in Baghdad. This occurred during the religious Shiite occasion. Iraq of late has witnessed a decrease in violence however insurgents still target holy sites, religious processions and security personnel. They are attempting to destabilize the nation and cause bloodshed in the country as the US troops are heading back home.

Police reports stated that the militants had attacked the homes of 2 police personnel, 2 members belonging to the anti Al-Qaida Awakening Council and the driver of an ambulance in the western parts of Abu Gharib in Baghdad. The men who were targeted by the militants were not present at the time of the attack however three members of their family were killed.

Militants also targeted a Sunni neighborhood in South Baghdad where one person was killed when a bomb that was attached to his car was detonated in the region.

CIA’s head has secured awarding a big contract to the contentious security to Blackwater. Leon Panetta, CIA’s director mentioned clearly that the bid of the company was fixed at US $26m when compared with its competitor. The contract that was priced at $100 aims at providing security at the United States consulates in the cities of Mazar-e-Sharif and Heart. Blackwater safeguarded opened fire on unarmed civilians in Baghdad in the year 2007 killing seventeen people. This company stopped its operations in 2009, Iraq. The US government stated in January 2009 that it will in no way renew the task orders of the company. As Blackwater the organization offered the US government with bodyguards both in Iraq and Afghanistan. But then it was reported that the four of the bodyguards were trapped in Fallujah, Iraq. Their bodies were hanged from a bridge over the River Euphrates. Blackwater was put up for sale earlier this month.