Finally.

We’re still leaving behind roughly 20,000 Americans (advisers, contractors, some troops), but the combat phase of the almost nine-year war is over.

Begun in March 2003 with a “shock and awe” campaign (remember that?) designed to allow rapid takeover of the country where we were supposed to be “greeted as liberators.”

Didn’t quite work out that way.

And the Mideast continues to be a tinderbox.

But one conflict down, one (Afghanistan) to go. It’s a step in the right direction.