[…] I congratulate the people of Iraq for casting their ballots in this important parliamentary election. I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process.

[…] I congratulate all the people of Iraq who participated in national elections today and over the past three days. There is no better rebuke to the violent extremists who seek to derail Iraq's progress. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost friends and loved ones, and we salute the determination of the Iraqi people to reaffirm their commitment to democracy and to chart their own future free of fear and intimidation.

[…] Ahead of Iraq’s March 5 elections, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad expects broad Iraqi participation in the vote, which he said can help contribute to political reconciliation in the country. He also said the United States must work with Iraqis to build political and democratic institutions, modernize the country’s economy, and help it establish productive relations with its neighbors.

[…] When officials of several leading U.S. technology companies visited Iraq in April 2009, they discovered that computer Internet access was limited and expensive, but cell phones had become ubiquitous.

Their conclusion: expand the use of these mobile devices and their applications to empower and connect people, launch businesses and make the Iraqi government more accessible and transparent.

[…] The United States condemns the series of bombing attacks against Shi’a pilgrims in Iraq over the past week. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Attacking men, women and children engaged in religious pilgrimage is reprehensible and exposes the cynical immorality of the terrorists who seek to replace Iraq’s hard-won progress with violence and intimidation.

[…] I strongly condemn the multiple bombings that took place yesterday and today in Baghdad and took the lives of many innocent Iraqis. We mourn the loss of life and extend our condolences to the victims’ families, friends, and communities. The terrorists who committed these crimes aim to sow fear among the Iraqi people, but they will not succeed in derailing Iraq’s effort’s to build a future of peace and security.

[…] In Mada’in Qada, a region east of Baghdad in Baghdad province, a farmers’ cooperative helps its more than 800 members cultivate their land using modern, sustainable agricultural techniques. The Green Mada’in Association for Agricultural Development celebrated the completion of its first year of operations by opening a new office and warehouse space and holding its first board of directors meeting in December.

[…] President Obama says the approval of a long-delayed election law by the Iraqi parliament is an important milestone. Obama says it helps clear the way for a planned withdrawal of American combat troops. Shortly after the Iraqi parliament approved the new election law, Obama went before reporters at the White House. “This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future,” he said.

[…] There were hundreds of people turned away, and more people are still coming in and standing in the back, which I think is a great tribute to the importance of this conference and the understanding of the significant opportunities that exist for business and investment in Iraq. We are excited in the Obama Administration to be part of this transition that is occurring in Iraq.

[…] President Obama praised the democratic commitment of the Iraqi people and their government as he also called for timely passage of a new election law for January 2010 parliamentary elections. Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki October 20 at the White House. “We had a wide-ranging discussion about the continuing progress that Iraq is making,” Obama said after a nearly hourlong Oval Office meeting.

[…] Hello, everybody. Before I discuss the meeting that I've just had with Prime Minister Maliki I just want to make a brief statement about Afghanistan. I had the opportunity to speak with President Karzai this morning and I wanted to congratulate him on accepting the certification of the recent election. As we all know, this has been a very difficult time in Afghanistan to not only carry out a election under difficult circumstances, where there were a whole host of security issues that had to be resolved, but also post-election a lot of uncertainty.

[…] Mr. Prime Minister, thank you once again for the welcome. I'm delighted to be back in Baghdad to discuss with the Prime Minister and his advisers issues of mutual interest. And I think we concluded some very productive talks. And once again, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for your hospitality as well as your leadership. And I want to assure -- I've assured the Prime Minister that the United States' commitment to strengthen our relationship with Iraq remains strong.

[…] The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says the United States will withdraw all combat forces by August 2010 and all remaining U.S. forces, advisers and trainers by December 2011. “We are holding to this timetable,” Ambassador Christopher Hill told the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee September 10. “First of all, I do believe Iraq is making progress such that the president’s timetable for withdrawal of our troops, which was something that was supported by the previous administration when it drew up the security agreement, is absolutely achievable.”

[…] Stating that the United States is in the midst of a transition to Iraqi responsibility, President Obama said all U.S. forces are on schedule to be fully withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011. “Violence continues to be down, and Iraqis are taking responsibility for their future,” Obama said at an afternoon press conference at the White House July 22 with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. “The success of this transition is critically important to the security and prosperity of our people, and it is a top priority of my administration.”

[…] Approximately 1,350 Palestinian refugees from Iraq are being considered for resettlement in the United States after being referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A State Department spokesman told America.gov July 13 that the resettlement process for the group actually began in 2008, and so far 24 Palestinians from Iraq have arrived in the United States.

[…] Thank you very much. Well, it is wonderful to see all these do-gooders in one room. (Laughter.) And it is always a dangerous thing trying to follow Geoffrey Canada. (Laughter.) But I thank you all for being here. Before we begin the subject of today's gathering, I want to say a few words about an important milestone that we've reached in Iraq. Today, American troops have transferred control of all Iraqi cities and towns to Iraq's government and security forces.

[…] The overall level of violence in Iraq continues to be low and Iraqis are showing a tendency to work within the political system as the January 16, 2010, parliamentary elections approach, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill says. Speaking to reporters at the State Department June 18, Hill also said U.S. forces will fully comply with the security agreement between Iraq and the United States.

[…] “Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.

[…] It is encouraging to both see and hear about the progress that is being made in Iraq, and that came through to me not only in my official meetings with the foreign minister, the prime minister, and the president, but also with the special representative of the secretary general of the United Nations. The special representative briefed me about the work that the UN is doing, including the recently concluded report on disputed internal borders.

[…] The Department of State is facilitating the travel to Baghdad, Iraq of a delegation of nine senior high-technology company representatives Sunday, April 19 to April 23. This will be the first delegation of its kind to Iraq. While in Iraq, the group will explore new opportunities to support Iraqi government and non-government stakeholders in Iraq’s emerging new media industry.

[…] With that reality as my focus, today I send to the Congress a supplemental appropriations request totaling $83.4 billion that will fund our ongoing military, diplomatic, and intelligence operations. Nearly 95 percent of these funds will be used to support our men and women in uniform as they help the people of Iraq to take responsibility for their own future -- and work to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

[…] President Obama made a surprise visit to Iraq April 7, where he said that a gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces will help cement security gains as the Iraqi government continues gaining strength. “You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country,” Obama told U.S. troops at Camp Victory outside Baghdad. “It is time for us to transition to the Iraqis.

[…] Under enormous strain and under enormous sacrifice, through controversy and difficulty and politics, you've kept your eyes focused on just doing your job. And because of that, every mission that's been assigned -- from getting rid of Saddam, to reducing violence, to stabilizing the country, to facilitating elections -- you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country.