The United States has formally declared an end to the Iraq War after an eight-and-a-half-year-long occupation. In a ceremony earlier today, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta hailed what he called “an independent, free and sovereign Iraq … after a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans.” Panetta’s declaration effectively ends the Iraq war two weeks earlier than planned with the year-end deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The United States is leaving behind a $6 billion embassy and diplomatic effort to be run by the State Department and staffed with thousands of private contractors. In a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, President Obama paid tribute to a contingent of returning troops.

President Barack Obama: “As your commander-in-chief and on behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to finally say these two words, and I know your families agree: welcome home. Welcome home. Welcome home.”