As the opening act of Obama’s fledgling presidency unfolded, the country — and the
world — kept a close eye on the 44th
president’s every important move.

Obama speaks at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and rolls out a timetable for exiting Iraq. He tells the troops that U.S. combat mission will end in August 2010 — but adds that a residual U.S. force of up to 50,000 troops will remain in Iraq to help support the Iraqi government. The target date for all troops to come home is the end of 2011.