Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared a new dawn on Saturday, 31 Dec 2011, as Iraq celebrated the departure of American troops at a ceremony.

Saturday marked the end of the 2008 security pact agreed by then-President George W. Bush and was the last day for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq,

I declare this day, the 31st of December, on which the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq is complete, as a national day," said Maliki in a televised ceremony, surrounded by security officials in dress uniforms.

"It is Iraq's day. It is a feast for all Iraqis. It is the dawn of a new day in Mesopotamia ... Your country is free."

Lieutenant General Abdul-Aziz al-Ubaidi said: "The armed forces are ready to protect our homeland, its waters, its land and its sky."........I sure hope so.....the soldiers that we lost in Iraq will turn over in their graves...if not!!!!!!