Iraq war

Iraq war
Main article: Iraq War
During his presidential transition, President-elect Obama announced that he would retain the incumbent Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, in his Cabinet.[147]

Early in his presidency, Obama moved to change the perception of U.S. war strategy by planning to decrease troop levels in Iraq as was planned in the closing days of the Bush administration.[148] On February 27, Obama declared that combat operations would end in Iraq within 18 months. His remarks were made to a group of Marines preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Obama said, "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."[149]

War in Afghanistan
Main article: War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Early in his presidency, Obama moved to change U.S. war strategy by increasing troop strength in Afghanistan.[148] On February 18, 2009, Obama announced that the U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan would be boosted by 17,000, asserting that the increase was necessary to "stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan", an area he said had not received the "strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires".[150]

On May 11, Obama replaced his military commander in Afghanistan, General David D. McKiernan, with former Special Forces commander Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, believing that McChrystal's Special Forces experience would facilitate the use of counterinsurgency tactics in the war.[151]

On December 1, Obama announced that he would deploy an additional 30,000 soldiers over a period of six months.[152] He also proposed to begin troop withdrawals 18 months from that date.[153][154] The following day, Gen. McChrystal cautioned that the timeline was flexible and “is not an absolute”[155].