End Of An Era of the Day: Early this morning, the last US troop crossed the Iraqi border into Kuwait, closing the door behind him.

Literally: "The gate to #iraq is closed," tweeted NBC News' Richard Engel. "Soldier just told me, 'that's it, the war is over.'"

Approx

War Is Over of the Day: After nearly nine years of bloodshed, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declared the US war in Iraq to be over.

The announcement was made during a symbolic ceremony which saw the lowing of the American flag in Baghdad.

"After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could gov

Troop Drawdown of the Day: President Obama announced today that the United States will withdraw nearly all its troops from Iraq by year's end.

"The rest of our troops in Iraq will come home at the end of the year," Obama said at an afternoon press briefing. "After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over."

Important Milestones of the Day: In Iraq, US soldiers mark an important milestone -- the first full month without a single fatality since the start of the war -- just as their Afghanistan counterparts mourn the losses suffered during the deadliest month yet in the decade