Obama: End of Iraq combat mission not victory lap

FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) — President Barack Obama told U.S. troops today that the end of combat operations in Iraq is “not going to be a victory lap,” not a cause for celebration.

“There’s still a lot of work that we’ve got to do to make sure that Iraq is an effective partner with us,” he said just hours before addressing the nation on the end of the U.S. combat role in Iraq.

Obama spoke with troops at a dining hall on this Army base in El Paso. The base has been central to the war effort. The soldiers were among those combat troops recently returned from Iraq.

Obama flew to the base to thank the troops for their sacrifice in the long and unpopular war, one he had opposed.

“Congratulations on a job well done. The country appreciates you,” Obama said.