The U.S. Forces in Iraq colors are lowered before being encased during a ceremony in Baghdad December 15, 2011. The U.S military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, packing up the military flag at a ceremony with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. REUTERS/Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Pool (IRAQ – Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)