American Morning
Iraq: Milestone not mission accomplished
Now that the last U.S. combat brigade has left Iraq only 50,000 support troops will be left in the country by the end of this month. What does this mean for our role in Iraq, moving forward? Retired Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, former assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs spoke with American Morning Thursday.Watch 
Caller to Dr. Laura's radio show: "It's still very hurtful"
When Nita Hanson called Dr. Laura's radio show last week, she was looking for a little advice to deal with a sensitive and very personal racial issue. Instead, she found herself on the receiving end of a stinging five-minute rant laced with the "n" word. Nita is speaking out publicly for the first time exclusively on CNN's American Morning.
"I Am A Soldier": Army Sgt. prepping for his third Afghan tour
The last combat troops may be pulling out of Iraq but more soldiers are heading to the other war in Afghanistan. The clock is ticking to stabilize Afghanistan so U.S. troops can meet the president's goal of withdrawing next July.The success of that mission belongs to unit's like the one Sgt. First Class Randy Shorter is part of. They are combat infantry, part of the final surge deploying to the region.
As part of my ongoing series 'A Soldier's Story' we'll be following shorter and his unit as they head into arguably one of the most dangerous parts of the country: Paktika province. I will be departing for Afghanistan tomorrow with Sgt. Randy Shorter. We'll be there with him from the moment he says goodbye to his family and stay with him as he lands in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan for his third combat tour of duty. Located in the southeast, Paktika is a place where attacks by insurgents is a major problem. Their mission: Rebuild infrastructure, help teach the Afghan people how to police themselves, and fight insurgents. Sgt. Shorter and his unit were last deployed there in 2008. Watch
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Last U.S. combat convoy has left Iraq
Mosul, Iraq (CNN) - The last U.S. brigade combat team in Iraq has left the country, a move that helps U.S. President Barack Obama reach his goal of 50,000 troops in the country by September 1.
Their departure leaves about 56,000 U.S. troops in the country, according to the U.S. military.
Capt. Christopher Ophardt, spokesman for the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, said the last of the 4,000 members of the unit crossed the border into Kuwait early Thursday.
A few hundred members stayed behind to finish administrative and logistical duties but will fly out of Baghdad later Thursday, Ophardt said.
Much of the brigade departed more than a day ago, but the announcement was delayed for security reasons.
Their departure comes more than seven years after U.S. combat forces entered, though their departure does not signify the end of all U.S. combat forces in the country.
Another 6,000 U.S. troops must leave Iraq to meet Obama's deadline for the end of U.S. combat operations in the country and the beginning of Operation New Dawn, in which the remaining U.S. forces are expected to switch to an advise-and-assist role.
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