President Obama took to the stage today to announce his long-awaited plan on the Iraq War. Speaking at a military base in North Carolina, Mr. Obama pledged a relatively swift end to the war, saying:

‘Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end … As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq,’ he said. ‘We will proceed carefully, and I will consult closely with my military commanders on the ground and with the Iraqi government. There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments. But our enemies should be left with no doubt: This plan gives our military the forces and the flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners, and to succeed.’

That timetable, three months longer than what Obama projected on the campaign trail, gives Iraqis enough time to settle further into democracy and hold elections in December. It also allows American forces to offer more comprehensive training to the nation’s security forces. Though the combat mission will be over, President Obama has said that he plans on keeping about 50,000 troops on the ground for counterterrorism and training missions through the end of 2011.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats have criticized this approach, saying they need more explanation on why we need to maintain such high levels.

Though Pelosi scoffs at the plan, the president did find robust support from some Republican lawmakers, including former rival John McCain, who said today, "I am cautiously optimistic that the plan as laid out by the president can lead to success."