2010 was a tumultuous year in Iraq. The U.S. announced the end of combat operations last August, but with some 50,000 troops still in-country, the future of the region remains difficult to predict. Caitlin Waters, proud Army wife and mother of two, has joined us over the past year to discuss her husband's service in Iraq. Caitlin joins us once again to reflect on the year in Iraq.

Frequent Takeaway guest Caitlin Waters joins us to talk about her husband Mark's experiences, as one of the U.S. soldiers still stationed in Iraq after the official end of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She reacts to General Jeffrey Buchanan's assessment of the war in that country earlier on the show — specifically his comments on the idea of troops like her husband needing to stay longer in Iraq to support the fragile government there.   

For wives of the 4^th Stryker Brigade, the waiting game is over – their husbands are coming home. But there are still 50,000 troops left in Iraq. With the troops and equipment tasked to combat gone, the future of the troops who stay behind will rely heavily on local Iraqi forces.

The Obama administration says the planned drawdown of 50,000 U.S. troops in Iraq is moving forward on schedule. There are currently around 94,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and a September 1 deadline is looming large for American officials. This comes despite post-election violence across the country and delays in the formation of the Iraqi government.