White House plans dinner to honor Iraq vets
To celebrate the end of the U.S. war in Iraq and honor the American men and women who served in it, President and Mrs. Obama will host a White House dinner on Leap Day - February 29th.
The dinner is "an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and of the families who supported them," said a White House statement.
Announcing the event at today's White House briefing, spokesman Jay Carney said the White House is working with military and civilian leaders on the dinner.
He said guests will include men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds.
Obviously, the White House could not accommodate the 1.5 million American military personnel who served in Iraq over nearly nine years, but Carney said those invited will represent all of those who served.
"It's harder to end a war than begin one," Mr. Obama said in a December 14 speech to troops at Fort Bragg, many of whom served multiple tours in Iraq.
Polls showed Americans had grown weary of the Iraq war, and Mr. Obama won election, in part, on his pledge to bring the war to an end.
"As President, I will end this war," said candidate Obama in speech after campaign speech leading to his election in 2008. And as he runs for re-election, the White House dinner will help him remind voters he delivered on his pledge even as U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan moves deeper into its 11th year.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have made providing assistance to military personnel and their families one of their pet projects.
In recent days, Mr. Obama has announced new steps to help find jobs for post-9/11 military personnel who have left the service or plan to do so.
