Iraq Military "Camp Victory" (Saddam's Palace) turned over in Iraq War's Conclusion (Dec. 2, 2011)

from Politico online article - summary (www.politico.com/ )

Camp Victory, a huge military base which once served as the headquarters for all U.S. military operations in Iraq, was handed over to Iraqi control on Friday (Dec. 2, 2011).
“The base is no longer under U.S. control and is under the full authority of the government of Iraq,” said U.S. military spokesman Col. Barry Johnson, according to the Associated Press.
At its height the base was home to as many as 40,000 troops and 30,000 contractors, reports ABC News.  The base was centered on Saddam Hussein’s Al-Faw Palace, and ironically the former dictator was held at one of the palace’s villas for three years while awaiting his trial and eventual execution.
The handover to the Iraqi government was done as part of American efforts to withdraw U.S. troops by the end of the month. In the past month, 20,000 troops have left Iraq; another 13,000 U.S. forces still remain.
While there was no formal handover ceremony, Vice President Joe Biden spoke at an event on the base Thursday, and remarked that American sacrifice had allowed the United States to “win the war.”  “Because of you and the work those of you here have done, we are now able to end this war,” Biden told assembled U.S. troops, Iraqi forces and security contractors.
The event Biden spoke at, which also featured Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, began with the playing of both American and Iraqi national anthems, but concluded with only the playing of the latter.