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Deutsche Welle

Iraq faces increasingly uncertain future as US troops withdraw

The next phase in US President Barack Obama's withdrawal of troops from Iraq has been all but completed. Rather than a reason to celebrate, many Iraqis are becoming nervous as the full US pullout becomes a reality.

Iraqis have been looking forward to the day when United States forces pack up and go home ever since the 2003 invasion led to 150,000 US soldiers being deployed in their country.

They've been living with an occupying army for over seven years. Even after sovereignty and the responsibility of governance were returned to Baghdad, US forces remained. Many Iraqis who were happy to have seen the dictator Saddam Hussein removed by the Americans soon came to resent the continued US presence. Many blamed them for the instability which followed Saddam's demise. To this day, most hold Washington largely responsible for the lack of basic services and the insecurity that continues to make everyday life in Iraq a dangerous struggle. Click here for more.