As President Barack Obama noted in his speech on the end of the American combat mission in Iraq, he has kept a promise he made during his presidential campaign. But a large contingent of American troops and civilians remain in Iraq, and their protection should be a key element of U.S. policy.

The withdrawal of combat troops ends a military operation that began more than seven years ago with the invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein, who was perceived as a threat. While the United States succeeded in that goal, America and its allies soon became embroiled in fighting a violent insurgency that was only subdued with a surge of U.S. troops in 2007.

Because of allied military efforts, Iraq is now more peaceful, though violence continues. It has had what the president termed "credible elections" this spring, which have led to an electoral stalemate and continuing negotiations among various Iraqi factions to form a stable government.

But at least the Iraqis have been given the chance to create a governing structure that could allow them to resolve their differences peacefully, if they have the will to do so.

The president noted that American military forces in Iraq have been reduced by nearly 100,000 troops. With combat operations ending, a force of about 50,000 U.S. soldiers will focus on training and advising the Iraqi military and police to combat the remaining threats against the country — including internal religious and ethnic tensions, the continuing presence of al-Qaida terrorists and a neighboring Iran that has a strong interest in disrupting a functioning Iraqi democracy.

The president announced that those troops will be leaving Iraq "by the end of next year." Even then, civilian advisers and diplomatic workers will stay behind, and, though the president didn't say so, several thousand civilian contractors who will be engaged in quasi-military operations.

The president vowed that the United States will remain a "strong partner" with Iraq after the troops leave.

The president then turned to Afghanistan, promising to continue the fight against al-Qaida in that country and, though he reiterated a timetable for withdrawal there, said its "pace will be determined by conditions on the ground."

That ambiguity is proper and necessary to keep our enemies in Afghanistan off-balance. It would have been helpful to our continuing mission in Iraq if Obama had added some language that would have given this country more flexibility in responding to possible threats and dangers to our remaining soldiers and civilian workers there.

All the continuing threats against the nascent Iraqi democracy are also threats against American personnel. In a telling detail, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he would support continuing combat pay for soldiers remaining in Iraq.

The president deserves credit for some grace notes in his speech, including moving tributes to the sacrifices of our troops and their families. And he made some gracious remarks about former President George W. Bush, who began the military action against Iraq.

The president was suitably tough in speaking about Afghanistan: "We will disrupt, defeat and dismantle al-Qaida, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists."

But as our focus shifts to Afghanistan, we must remember our duty to those Americans who are still in Iraq as it struggles toward a viable democracy.

REPRINTED FROM THE DETROIT NEWS