Unspectacular end to U.S. war in Iraq

BAGHDAD -- The American war in Iraq came to an unspectacular end Thursday at a simple ceremony held on the edge of Baghdad's international airport, not far from the highway along which U.S. troops first fought their way into the capital more than eight years ago.

There were speeches paying tribute to the fallen, promises that the United States would not abandon Iraq, vague declarations of "success" and warnings of challenges ahead. A brass band played, and the flag that had flown over the headquarters of the U.S. mission here was lowered for the last time and folded away.

And that was it. No pronouncements of victory, no cheers or jubilation -- only a profound sense that the war's real reckoning is yet to come, even as the American part in it draws to a close.

No senior Iraqi government officials showed up for the event, though the name tags attached to two chairs in the front row indicated American hopes that they might. One was labeled for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the other for President Jalal Talabani.

The only prominent Iraqis to attend were a former defense minister and three generals who have worked closely alongside U.S. forces and have often expressed hopes that they will remain.

It was a reminder that for all the declarations of progress, the troops are leaving now primarily because most Iraqis wanted them to go, despite the massive uncertainties lingering over the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces and over the country's still precarious political balance.

Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the sixth and last of the U.S. generals to command U.S. forces in Iraq, alluded to those when he spoke of the "opportunities" American troops had created for Iraqis to live freely and prosper, without sounding at all sure that they will.

But he also warned of the dangers that militant groups may yet disrupt the gains the Iraqi security forces have made in recent years, at a time when the turmoil of the Arab revolts threatens to reignite Iraq's sectarian tensions and fuel regional rivalries.

"There's no doubt this is a challenging time for Iraq and its neighbors," Austin told a small group of American soldiers and dignitaries gathered within an encirclement of fortified concrete. "But Iraq has the opportunity to assume a position of leadership if it follows the right path."