U.S. forces begin new "advise and assist" mission in Iraq: Biden

BAGHDAD, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. forces have begun a new "advise and assist " mission in Iraq, a day after U.S. President Barack Obama announced the end of U.S. combat mission in the country.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over but the American engagement with Iraq will continue with the mission that begun today, Operation New Dawn," Biden said while addressing a ceremony at Camp Victory U.S. military base which includes former president Saddam Hussein's Faw Palace near Baghdad airport.

"As President Obama declared in the oval office last night, the United States has now ended our combat mission in Iraq and the Iraqi troops are taking lead the responsibility for their country' s security," Biden said. "We kept a promise made to the American people and to the people of Iraq to draw down our force to roughly 50,000."

He said the ceremony does not only mark the change of command, but "the start of different chapter in relationship with Iraq, as the remaining forces will present advice and assist for the Iraqi forces, counter-terrorism operations and protect U.S. military and civilian personnel."

"We are ramping up our civilian and diplomatic effort to strengthen Iraqi sovereignty, stability and self-reliance," Biden said, adding that "our goal is not just a physically secure Iraq but an economically prosperous and stable one as well."

He also pledged the U.S. troops will completely pull out of Iraq by the end of 2011 according to the security pact named Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, signed late in 2008 between Baghdad and Washington.

Biden hailed the Iraqi people who rejected the violence fomented by al-Qaida, and called on the Iraqi leaders to form the new government after six months of the country's parliamentary elections.

"An enemy like al-Qaida in Iraq raised unspeakable violence against Iraqi civilians and fostered hatred between communities. Thus far they have failed, the Iraqi people have rejected the ugly face of violence," Biden said.

He called on the Iraqi politicians to place the national interest above their own. "I strongly urge them to match the courage their citizens have shown by bringing this process to a close and forming a government," he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also attended the ceremony, told the remaining troops in Iraq that their role is still vital despite the shift of the U.S. military focus to Afghanistan.

"Even as the weight of our military efforts and public attention has shifted to Afghanistan, you should know your work here is critical to the future of this part of the world and to the national security of our country," Gates said.

The ceremony of the end of combat mission also included the change of top U.S troops' commanders in Iraq as General Raymond Odierno was replaced by Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin.

Odierno confirmed that the U.S. troops will continue support the Iraqi forces in their missions, expressing his confidence that Iraqi security forces could protect the country.

Austin said that Iraq is still facing challenges and the U.S. is committed to supporting and training the Iraqi forces, stressing that success will be achieved by joint work and high coordination with Iraqis. 

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