“Vice President Joe Biden has traveled to Iraq on Monday to commemorate the end of the US combat mission there, according to the White House. In a written statement, The White House says that Biden will participate in a ceremony while there as well as meet with Iraqi political leaders Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani “”to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and to urge Iraqi leaders to conclude negotiations on the formation of a new government,”". While the mission ends on Tuesday, 50000 troops will remain in the country through 2011. They will stay on to train and advise the Iraqis on taking control of their own security. President Barack Obama, who pledged to end this war as a candidate, will address the nation on the seven-year conflict on Tuesday night. “