KKTV 11 News | Colorado Springs, Pueblo | News  Iraq War
Officially Ends    It's over.  After almost nine years, the
United States has officially ended its Iraq campaign.  The U.S.
military lowered the flag of the U.S. forces-Iraq Thursday,
symbolizing the end of the war.  Now, only a few thousand troops
remain in the country, a stark drop from the 170,000 once
stationed there, with virtually all expected to leave by the end
of the month. At the height of the war, there were 500 U.S.
military installations open in Iraq--now, just two U.S. bases
remain.  The war concludes with a heavy price tag: 4,500
Americans dead, 32,000 wounded, and $8 billion spent. Over a
million soldiers cycled through the country at some point during
the war's duration. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
acknowledged the toll the war took, but said soldiers should be
proud of their accomplishments.   The full legacy of the
conflict will likely remain a point of controversy for
generations to come.  Four thousand troops will remain in