Last US troops leave Iraq, closing of border gates

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• published: 30 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 1. Various of convoy of US troops entering Kuwait from Iraq at Khabari Crossing, AUDIO: honking horns 2. Back shot of convoy of US troops entering Kuwait, AUDIO: honking horns 3. Various of soldier on top of armoured vehicle 4. Convoy entering Kuwait 5. Wide of soldiers watching 6. Various of convoy 7. Pull out of soldiers inside vehicle 8. Various of female soldier waving to convoy 9. Soldiers talking on ground 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Specialist Elias (no other name given), 62nd Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson Colorado: (Q: Are you happy to go home?) "Yeah, I am excited to go home." (Q: How was it - was it difficult for you there?) "It had ups and downs, but, it was challenging, but I am just glad that you know everybody came back home safe and we are just you know on the way back, safe and sound." 11. Cutaway to soldiers talking 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Specialist Elias (no other name given), 62nd Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson Colorado: "I believe we've done a good job and I think, at least in our unit, our mission was accomplished." 13. Various of soldier handling weapons ++EARLY MORNING SHOTS++ 14. Wide of border 15. Various of another convoy of US troops entering Kuwait 16. Various of sunrise ++DAY SHOTS++ 17. Convoy entering Kuwait 18. Various of back shots of convoy entering Kuwait, sunrise in background 19. Soldiers standing by holding flag 20. Various of convoy 21. Wide of gate being opened for last convoy of US troops 22. Various of convoy entering Kuwait ++DAY SHOTS++ 23. Various of last convoy of US troops entering Kuwait 24. SOUNDBITE (English) Name Not Given, US soldier: "It just touches my heart to see our troops coming home. Job well done." 25. Various of soldiers clapping as convoy passes by 26. Last vehicle from last convoy of US troops entering Kuwait, soldiers standing nearby clapping 27. US and Kuwaiti soldiers closing the gate and shaking hands 28. Close of handshake 29. Pull out from handshake to soldiers posing for photographers STORYLINE The last US soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border to neighbouring Kuwait at daybreak on Sunday, honking their horns and whooping in a burst of joy and relief. Their exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered, with troubling questions lingering over whether the Arab nation will remain a steadfast US ally. The mission cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives, and 800 (b) billion dollars from the US Treasury. The war that began in a blaze of aerial bombardment meant to shock and awe the dictator Saddam Hussein and his loyalists ended quietly and with minimal fanfare. The final few thousand US troops left Iraq in orderly convoys and tightly scheduled flights. They pulled out at night in hopes it would be more secure and got out in time for at least some of the troops to join families at home for the Christmas holidays. The last convoy of MRAPs, heavily armoured personnel carriers, arrived in Kuwait around 7:30 am local time (0430GMT) on Sunday. Soldiers standing just inside the crossing on the Kuwaiti side of the border waved as the final trucks crossed over. At least 4,000 forces will remain in Kuwait for some months, despite President Barack Obama saying earlier that all American troops would be home for Christmas. The troops will be able to help finalise the move out of Iraq, but could also be used as a quick reaction force if needed. US officials acknowledged the cost in blood and dollars was high, but tried to paint a picture of victory - for both the troops and the Iraqi people now freed of a dictator and on a path to democracy. Many Iraqis, however, are nervous and uncertain about the future. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/da31c374f03b8517af69f639f1ac37de Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork