As Iraq War Ends, No Parade For Troops Is Imminent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans won't be seeing a huge ticker-tape parade anytime soon for troops returning from Iraq.

In fact, it's not clear if veterans of the nine-year campaign will ever enjoy the grand, flag-waving, red-white-and-blue homecoming that the nation's fighting men and women received after World War II and the Gulf War.

Officials in New York and Washington say they would be happy to help stage a big celebration. But Pentagon officials say they haven't been asked to plan one.

Some think a big parade would be unseemly and premature. After all, tens of thousands of U.S. troops are still fighting in Afghanistan.

And many veterans of the Iraq War could end up getting sent back into battle in Afghanistan.