[01/September/2010]

Baghdad, September 01 (Saba) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived on a surprise visit to Iraq early Wednesday, as the US Army formally close down their combat mission, according Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Gates arrived at Al-Asad Air Base, about 100 miles west of Baghdad, just a few hours after US President Barack Obama told Americans it was time to "turn the page" on Iraq.

President late Tuesday officially announced the end of the US combat mission in Iraq.
Fewer than 50,000 U.S. troops remain, down from more than 165,000 at the height of the fighting. The remaining forces' primary role is to help train and equip Iraqi forces over the next year.

Gates flew to Iraq from Milwaukee, where he told an American Legion audience Tuesday that Iraq's problems had not all been solved.

Saba