Obama Admin: Withdrawing Combat Troops is the "Right Thing for Our Budget and Economy"

I'm just getting off a blogger conference call with Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes (who will also be answering questions after the President's speech tonight). During the call, I had the chance to ask Rhodes a question regarding the flimflammery that is today's report from Fox News that the Iraq War has cost less than the stimulus, and relatedly how much savings will come from ending the War.

Rhodes began by explaining that the greatest sacrifices during the Iraq War have clearly been borne by members of the armed forces. But Rhodes also noted that the American people have had to make sacrifices, too, with more than $750 billion already dedicated to the military effort, which in the end is expected to cost more than $1 trillion. Resources spent on Iraq, Rhodes noted, haven't gone to other priorities -- both domestic priorities and national security priorities. Dramatically drawing down expenditures on Iraq as forces are drawn down frees up money for these other priorities and, in the words of Rhodes, is the "right thing for our budget and economy."

You can hear more on Iraq and the fulfilled promise to withdraw all American combat forces from the country tonight from the President's own mouth starting at 8:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Pacific.