In response, Republicans proposed a resolution that "the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately," without any provision for redeployment, which was voted down 403–3.
Republican then-House Majority Leader John Boehner, who argued against a deadline, stated "achieving victory is our only option", and "we must not shy away".
On the other hand, Democratic then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi argued that a deadline is necessary, and stated "'stay the course' is not a strategy, it's a slogan", and "it's time to face the facts.
The bill failed with a vote of 255 to 171, 13 of the Nays coming from Democrats representing districts won by John Kerry in 2004.
[19][22][23] On 18 July 2007, after an all-night debate, the Senate blocked the passage of a bill that would have set a troop withdrawal timetable with a vote of 52–47.
The withdrawal would have started within 120 days, and would have required that all troops (except an unspecified number could be left behind to conduct a very narrow set of missions) be out of the country by 30 April 2008.
Some of the basic features of their proposal included: The three largest coalitions which organized demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq in 2003, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), and Not in Our Name (NION), have all called for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops, "out now."
The UFPJ legislative working group has endorsed Murtha's redeployment proposal "because it is a powerful vehicle to begin the debate on the war," though the organization as a whole has not taken a position.
[29] On 27 February 2009, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, President Barack Obama announced his revision to the original date of withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.
President Obama reaffirmed commitment to the original complete withdrawal date of 31 December 2011, set by the agreement between the Bush administration and the Iraqi government.
[37] The U.S. retained an embassy in Baghdad[37] with some 17,000 personnel,[38] consulates in Basra, Mosul and Kirkuk, which have been allocated more than 1,000 staff each,[38] and between 4,000 and 5,000 defense contractors.
[37] President Obama and al-Maliki outlined a broad agenda for post-war cooperation without American troops in Iraq during a joint press conference on 12 December 2011 at the White House.
Both leaders said their countries would maintain strong security, diplomatic and economic ties after the last U.S. combat forces withdraw.
[39][40] President Barack Obama paid tribute to the troops who served in Iraq on 14 December 2011, at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.
[41] On 15 December, an American military ceremony was held in Baghdad putting a formal end to the U.S. mission in Iraq.
[1][2][3][4][5][6] At the time of withdrawal, the United States had one remaining soldier, Staff Sergeant Ahmed K. Altaie, still missing in Iraq since 23 October 2006, and had offered a $50,000 (equivalent to $75,570 in 2023) reward for his recovery.