troops in iraq, there was as many as 30,000 plus military, maybe 20,000 civil yonc working in the giant base. it was bigger than fort bragg. it underscores by 31 december largely the war is over, we re out. we leave a strong diplomatic mission. hopefully the iraquis will hold this together. there are currently 12,000 u.s. troops in iraq, five bases down from 170,000 at 500 bases, we saw 2007. at the end of the year, they will all be gone. i m going to play what the vice president had to say on his visit there. his sons returning from iraq. emotional words when talking with ann curry. let s play it. so damn proud of you. i m so incredibly proud of him and these kids. these kids they are not kids.