UPDATE: President Obama addresses troops at Ft. Bliss, heads back to D.C.

FORT BLISS -- President Barack Obama, accompanied by Congressman Silvestre Reyes, visited Ft. Bliss today and addressed a select group of troops about the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq. The president's visit lasted one hour and 20 minutes with Air Force One departing Biggs Airfield at 11:35 a.m.

"We are honored and it means a lot that he came all the way over here to El Paso and Fort Bliss to talk to our soldiers and their families," said Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, commanding general of Fort Bliss.

El Paso Mayor John Cook greeted President Obama and presented him with a plaque that contained a key to the city. Also present when Obama arrived were Post Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, state Representatives Harry Teague and Ciro Rodriguez.

"Today is about Bliss and our men and women in uniform who have served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan," Cook said. "I am humbled to present him with the keys to this city and to tell him ‘mi casa es tu casa.'"

In his speech to the troops, Obama expressed his appreciation of the hard work the men and women of the Armed Forces have given to their country.

"I wanted to come down to Fort Bliss mainly to say thank you and to say welcome home," said Obama during his speech. "Now, I just met with some Gold Star families, and yesterday I was at Walter Reed.  And there are no moments when I feel more keenly and more deeply my responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief than during those moments.  I know we lost 51 fellow soldiers from here at Fort Bliss.  A lot more than that were injured, some of them very severely.  A million men and women in uniform have now served in Iraq.  And this has been one of our longest wars. But the fact of the matter is that there has not been a single mission that has been assigned to all of you in which you have not performed with gallantry, with courage, with excellence.  And that is something that the entire country understands."

One of the president's goals when he took office was to end or dramatically reduce the number of troops in Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010. According to White House officials, less than 50,000 troops remain in Iraq.

"What he said (Obama in his speech) was ‘that we still have a tough road ahead,'" Pittard said. "But we're all happy that the official combat operations are over. But now, we are really in the assist and advise phase of that mission."

Fort Bliss is one of the largest military bases in the nation, with more than 25,000 active-duty troops. The base has deployed more than 200,000 soldiers to military operations since 2003.

"What a very exciting day to be selected for our commander in chief to come out and pay us a visit on a very historic day as we transition to an advisor and assist mission in Iraq," said Post Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport. "It is a recognition that Fort Bliss is becoming a premium installation in our Army with very wide range of missions that we have to support the commander in chief and the decisions he may make."

This visit marks the first trip Obama has made to El Paso. After his speech to the troops at Fort Bliss, Obama headed back to Washington D.C., where he will address the nation tonight at 6 p.m. MDT about the ending of the Iraq War from the Oval Office.

"I'm going to make a speech to the nation tonight.  It's not going to be a victory lap.  It's not going to be self-congratulatory," said Obama in his speech. "There's still a lot of work that we've got to do to make sure that Iraq is an effective partner with us.  But the fact of the matter is that because of the extraordinary service that all of you have done, and so many people here at Fort Bliss have done, Iraq has an opportunity to create a better future for itself, and America is more secure."

Aaron Martinez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.