Obama to Give Oval Office Address on Iraq

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Foreign Policy ,; White House ,; Obama Administration

(Credit: AP)

President Obama will deliver a live address to the nation about the Iraq war next Tuesday night -- the day the American combat role in Iraq formally comes to an end.

Starting September 1, the U.S. mission in Iraq shifts from combat to support of Iraqi security forces. There will also be a change in command in Iraq. In addition to addressing these changes Tuesday night, the president will also make remarks about the war in Afghanistan.

Fewer than 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq for the altered mission -- a milestone the U.S. reached yesterday, when the number of American troops fell below 50,000 for the first time since the start of the war. Yesterday, Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan hailed the removal of some 94,000 troops from Iraq since Mr. Obama took office, calling it "a truly remarkable achievement for our military and for the country." He also said it "demonstrates the capability of the Iraqi security forces."

Violence in the country, however, continues. Today, bombers and gunmen killed at least 50 people in an apparently coordinated string of attacks against Iraqi government forces.

Tuesday's address will be the second the president has given from the Oval Office. Earlier this year, he spoke to the nation about the Gulf oil spill.

Mr. Obama will deliver his address at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. You can follow our live coverage on your CBS television station, on CBS Radio News or online here at CBSNews.com.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by texasborndemo August 25, 2010 5:42 PM EDT: Everytime I want a good laugh,I find it from comments made by the repigs.They don't get it and never will,but I'll tell them one more time,the days of "Boy George" and the money hungry repigs are over,get used to it,and if you don't like it,"Grab your bag,it's on".; Reply to this comment

by Tess_Comments August 25, 2010 5:16 PM EDT

1. Does he know where the Oval Office is?

2. Will he allow regular Press Coverage or will there only be "his press" allowed to cover this speech?

3. How many telepromters will thre be?

Reply to this comment


by MurdochSucks August 25, 2010 6:20 PM EDT: Teleprompter, yes, at least he can read one.


by Stainless-joe August 25, 2010 4:56 PM EDT: well after the news today, it shows the Surge, the great idea of McCain
haha, did not work and Obama was correct in voting against it.
We spent billions more and lost the lives of many more of our sons for what?
Should have ended being there a year or two ago but listened the the phoney hero McCain and did the Surge, when is this Country going to learn
McCain and his buddies are all about making $ for his buddies selling weapons, they don't care about lives of our sons; Reply to this comment


by ajvw August 25, 2010 4:30 PM EDT: hope he's not interupting his vacations.; Reply to this comment