U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks during a ceremony for the U.S. military to retire its ceremonial flags signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Baghdad December 15, 2011. The U.S military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, packing up a military flag at a ceremony with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. This ceremony is called the “casing of the colors” and signifies the departing and inactivation of the U.S. military’s presence in Iraq. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (IRAQ – Tags: CONFLICT MILITARY POLITICS)