The final convoy of US soldiers bade adieu to Iraq

History was made as the controversial Iraq war ended on Sunday, and the last of the US troops quietly made their exit from Iraqi soil to return for home. In what was termed as the last display of “tactical road march” by the United States military, a convoy of around hundred fully armored vehicles made the overnight journey to reach the boundary between Iraq and western Kuwait. The night-long journey of the fleet, carrying nearly 500 troops, was mostly uneventful.

With the withdrawal of the last of the United State military force from Iraq, ended the gulf war in the middle east that spanned nearly nine years and resulted in approximately a trillion dollar loss to US tax payers. The US troops convoy was greeted at the Kuwait border by General Lloyd Austin who had held the post of top U.S. military commander – Iraq, till Friday. Those who are remaining now in Iraq are 157 soldiers and a handful of marines carrying out diplomatic mission.

Although the Iraq war is finally over, problems are far from leaving Iraq. Already two Sunni-dominated provinces are demanding for autonomy. There is also a growing fear of Iranian influence in Iraq.

Time will tell how successful the United States role has been in its mission to establish peace and security vis-à-vis Saddam’s era in Iraq. But there is no doubt that much of the United States credibility hangs on how successfully Iraq builds its political structures and carries out structural reforms in the coming years. The world would be watching with interest…