Obama says Iraqi withdrawal on schedule

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama said Monday his plan to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq is on schedule but cautioned that Americans will continue to make sacrifices.

Speaking at the Disabled American Veterans convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Obama said all of the remaining US combat forces will be out of Iraq by the end of August, reducing the presence to 50,000 soldiers who will stay behind to train Iraqi security forces, provide logistical support and assist in counter-terrorism missions.

“These are dangerous tasks,” Obama said. “And there are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq’s progress. And the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq.”

Obama campaigned on ending the US role in the war in Iraq to focus more resources on the war in Afghanistan, where he has sent tens of thousands of additional troops. Obama said by the end of August, more than 90,000 soldiers will have left Iraq since he took office in January 2009.

All US forces are due to leave Iraq by the end of 2011.