Anxious Iraq braces for violence as U.S. leaves

It began nine years ago with what the Pentagon called "shock and awe." And it ended Thursday with humble words. The vice president of the United States slipped into Baghdad unannounced to hand over the U.S. military headquarters to Iraq following nearly a decade of war.

Correspondent Jim Axelrod covered the beginning of the Iraq war for CBS News and was in Baghdad for the ceremonies Thursday. He reported on the country's uncertain future.

Watch the video below:

[smilidon04]

I am willing to bet not one of these idiot posters actually went to Iraq and heard them beg for us to stay. Children bring us candy now instead of the opposite asking us to stay. Parents offering their land or livestock to individual soldiers because they know the IP's and IA's are already bought and sold by the extremists. They love us there and are begging for us to stay as they see more and more of us leaving. The parents are teaching there children basic english so they can ask us to stay and they cry in the streets as the bases close. You people are clueless most lawful Iraqi's haven't had security like this in their lifetimes and they are losing it all at once because of some diplomatic bs. Believe the media if you want but unless you've been you are speaking out your ass and look just plain clueless.

[saddair]

I am glad we are leaving. The Iraqi's need to determine their own future and thus their fate. We need to heal our divided nation and strengthen ourselves for the world is sinking into an abyss and America needs to be ready for what's to come.

[rpiny82]

-Our time there was wasted. Iraq prefers to remain in the dark ages as a vulnerable puppet to the overly-religious moolies!

by bringbackmfg December 1, 2011 7:58 PM EST

You got that right. Nobody or nothing in that backward assed hell hole is worth a cup of warm American ****.

[oldman67]

Since the US military industrial complex bombed Iraq back into the stone age and cover much of Iraq with depleated uranium dust i am sure they won't be missed.500,000 Iraqi children age five and under dead from starvation and disease due to US sanctions before the start of the war. 1.5 million civilians dead and thanks to the US use of depleated uranium 500,000 deformed babies of which most have died. iraqi women are not worried as much as what their babies will look like as much a swill they live. Madalen Albright summed it up for America when asked was it worth 500,000 babies dying. her reply was, yes! We think it was. yes, i believe they are ready for the US to leave.The US will still have bases and the new US embassy in Iraq as well as troops to protect the nearly completed pipe line.