Why the US Should Not Withdraw from Iraq

Felicia Michelle Whatley

Why the US Should Not Withdraw from Iraq

The Good Fight, the Long Haul

            Leaving Iraq would be a travesty to America. Realists would argue leaving the region prematurely would create greater chaos, and Iraq would be an anarchic mess. And as a result, America would lose strategic power as a hegemony in the Middle East and around the world. We can not withdraw from Iraq.

            Every suicide bomber is a weapon of mass destruction. Why the US decided to go to war with Iraq no longer matters. What does matter is what US Army General Petraeus spoke about on his Sept. 10, 2007 Congressional Speech, in which he argued for a gradual reduction in U.S. troops in Iraq. It is a realistic solution to cut back on US troops IF the Iraqi people are able to govern themselves, but a complete withdrawal too soon as Obama platformed and promised during the election process, would be detrimental to US foreign policy in the Middle East. A sudden American exit also would undercut efforts to increase international support for the Iraqi government.

            America has lost over 4,000 lives in the war in Iraq; may that not be in vain. And even more shocking is the over 50,000 Iraqis who have been killed.  Classical realism has been defined by J. Baylis, J. Smith, and S. Ownes in “The Globalization of World Politics”, pg 95, as the nation’s drive for power and the will to dominate. “Fundamentally it is the nature of man is to push states and individuals to act in a way that places interests over ideologies.”  It is the interest of the US to stabilize the region and continue our mission in Iraq.

Saddam Hussein’s failure to corporate with the United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1441 on March 20, 2003 incited the US and 49 other countries to invade Iraq. It took three weeks to overthrow the Iraqi government and disband their military. Though President Bush debacled by saying “Mission Accomplished” the war on terror was not easily won, as many Americans had hoped it would be. And though no Weapons of Mass Destruction were found in the sense of nuclear, chemical or biological arms, Saddam has a track record for committing crimes of humanity. Mustard gassing over 150,000 of his own people sent a clear message to the international community and by every sense of the word, Saddam was a terrorist.

(Easter Attack on the Embassy Compound with my unit. Photo by SSG Don Veitch)

Realists were on the fence and quick to criticize Bush’s intentions for perhaps a gross overreaction, but Saddam picked a bad time to be belligerent.  Americans were scared. They never imagined terrorism would be in their front lawns. No one ever imagined a hijacking attack would emerge from our airports, not just a factious story like that in Delta Force movies.

But the fact of the matter was--we were already invaded. Those student visas are gateways for criminals, and let’s be frank, our borders were never secure. Homeland Security didn’t even exist until after 9/11. Pearl Harbor did not teach us to not be isolationists who were oblivious to attacks such as the USS Cole, the Marine Barracks in Beirut, and prior attacks to the World Trade Center. President Clinton did nothing and as long as our economy was prosperous, no one complained. “For years since 9/11, I and other terrorism experts sought to explain why Osama bin Laden and his jihadist followers did not hit the U.S. homeland again, a mystery made all the more profound by the deadly jihadist terrorist attacks in Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, and the U.K., among other lands, to say nothing of constant jihadist strikes in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan,” (Byman).

UMass Boston’s Associate Student Life and Activities Director Donna Neal said there were three reasons why we should not withdraw from Iraq. “1^st: The excuse to invade was to topple Saddam and establish democracy. The democratic government of Iraq isn't strong enough to withstand domestic anti-government forces and they cannot withstand external opposition without US support.2^nd: With the world in agreement that Iran has nuclear capabilities the country of Iraq becomes even more important to keep in anti Iranian and pro Western hands.  3^rd: Until the US really commits to off shore drilling and gets the wells dug we need a source of middle eastern oil we can count on.” So she feels the reasons why we are there are strategic and necessary. For all we have invested so far, it would be a waste to pull up the anchor and go home. Iraq is not able to defend itself from Iran and our oil interests are going to continue to be a vital reason why we need stability in the region, instead of terrorists calling the shots.

Terrorism charges against various Americans in the years after 9/11 seemed to confirm how much safer our country was. The FBI would occasionally announce arrests of suspects, but in practice they signified how limited the threat was. Those charged were often common criminals or unskilled wannabes, talking big but with little ability to carry out their schemes. Iyman Faris, convicted of providing material support to al Qaeda, initially intended to cut through the many huge cables of the Brooklyn Bridge with a blowtorch, a ridiculous and almost impossible scheme.

What happened at Alexandria, Va., when five American terrorists in Pakistan were detained came just a month after Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly killed 13 of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas? The alleged killings followed the fact that Najibullah Zazi, an Afghan resident of the U.S., who is accused of planning to blow up several targets in New York was charged. Mr. Zazi pleaded not guilty in September. Mr. Zazi's arrest followed another disturbing realization; America had produced its first suicide bomber, who had blown himself up in Somalia in 2008.

            If the U.S. troops withdraw, the Iraqi government forces would be demoralized and could begin to turn to the insurgency. Insurgent groups would be motivated to increase their efforts against Americans to recruit and kill. Many Iraqis who were neutral would be forced to side with the Sunni Arabs or face repercussions. There is also too much corruption still in the Iraqi government. Trade Minister Falah al-Sudani submitted his resignation May 14. The Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki delayed accepting it to allow the parliament to review the allegations. "The statesman must think in terms of the national interest, conceived as power among other powers. The popular mind, unaware of the fine distinctions of the statesman’s thinking, reasons more often than not in the simple moralistic and legalistic terms of absolute good and absolute evil,” said Hans Morgenthau.

The allegations include claims that the minister's two brothers skimmed off tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks on food and other goods imported by the Trade Ministry. “One of his brothers, Sabah al-Sudani, was arrested this month allegedly trying to leave the country. The other brother, Majid al-Sudani, remains at large. Both were members of the minister's security force,” stated. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/25/iraq-trade-minister-resig_n_207297.html).

            In Baghdad in October Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said political corruption was a serious problem in Iraq that interferes with national unity, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports. Public funds and political corruption undermines the entire state’s structure and threatens its social fabric. Al-Maliki made the statement during a conference on governance at the Defense Ministry. He said political corruption was more dangerous and "more tiresome" to the state than financial fraud because it undermined the "foundations of national unity." He also said that "the state can’t survive with fraudsters misappropriating.”

Walid al-Hilli, a leading member of al-Maliki's Dawa party, stated that regional powers and neighboring countries will exert influence over the Iraqi political parties and government. Al-Hilli said intelligence agencies in the neighboring countries are working "round the clock to find ways of supporting certain political movements and groups so that they will do well in the coming elections," Radio Free Iraq said.

The Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Muhammad al-Askari told RFI the armed forces and Defense Ministry staff are banned from associating with political organizations because of the risk of political corruption. Al-Maliki accused parliamentary factions of blocking new electoral legislation to try to discredit his government in the national elections. (http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqi_Premier_Warns_Of_Dangers_Of_Political_Corruption/1853819.html)

(General Petraeus and me at a JAG graduation at Harvard. Photo by SSG Ed Diaz)

This article was particularly interesting because I was deployed to Iraq when I wrote and published it. I transposed a few letters in my last name to cover myself.

This is my survey/ interview questions I used as a basis of how veterans, Iraqi refugees, and other American citizens feel about the war in Iraq. The polling research done by some of the top media sources gave me a depth of knowledge to work with. I made a few tables out of the graphs to show how public opinion is driving the political atmosphere at the White House about what to do about the war in Iraq. Though it would have been nice if the answers supported my thesis, it is realistic to understand that most Americans are calling for a swift withdrawal. I think a withdrawal sounds good, but a realistic withdrawal should take another ten years. I have seen the extremely fortified and obviously expensive new US Embassy in Baghdad. I think despite Obama’s election platform to withdraw and the US citizen’s opinion, we will still have a strong presence in the many years to come.

Me and SPC Cheryl Van Dyke during our tour to Bosnia in 2003.

Iraq Survey

What is your profession?

What is your educational level?

What is your gender and age?

Would you consider yourself liberal or conservative?

Are you a veteran?

Have you been to Iraq?

Are you a refugee from Iraq?

What positive things have come from the American invasion of Iraq?

Have you lost any loved ones or comrades to the war?

How do you think the war in Iraq could be better managed?

Is it a justifiable war? Why or why not?

What do you think would happen if too many Coalition troops were withdrawn too quickly from Iraq?

Why shouldn’t the U.S. withdraw from Iraq?

Have the reasons why the U.S. has stayed in Iraq changed and how?

Do you think history will show why this is an important war, why or why not?

Do you agree with how the Media portrays the war in Iraq?

Do you think the surge was a success?

What is your name and rank if you have one?

Is it ok to quote your opinion in my college paper?

Thank you for your participation. It is greatly appreciated. –Felicia Whatley

Patrick Johnson is a 32 year old IT Specialist for the District Attorney in Boston and is a Political Science UMass Boston Alumni. He considers himself an active Conservative as part of Boston’s Young Republican club. Johnson says that one of the good things that has come from the invasion of Iraq is the elections, but is not sure how the war could have been managed better by the US. “If too many Coalition troops were withdrawn too quickly from Iraq violence between factions will happen, but I think that may happen even if we withdraw slowly,” said Johnson. We shouldn’t withdraw from Iraq because violence in the country would go up. Iran would be able to better exert control over Iraq, he said. “Yes history will show why this is an important war because whatever the outcome, decades from now it will certainly have a large historical impact on the region,” said Johnson. He also thinks the surge was a success because Coalition causalities have gone way down.

UMass Boston’s Veteran’s Center Coordinator and Navy veteran Caroline Necheles is a Liberal and a Junior studying Literature. She has been deployed to Iraq. She feels that a positive thing that has come out of this war is getting rid of Saddam and his family. She has lost loved ones or comrades in the war.

When asked if the war is justifiable she said, “No. We used 9/11 as an excuse to invade.” If the US pulled too many troops out too quickly there would be an economic and social negative impact. “The country is already a mess. If we leave too fast it will get worse quicker. We should withdraw slowly from Iraq,” said Necheles. She feels that this war is not important to history instead, it will show how Bush/Chaney are idiots and that is their legacy.”

She doesn’t think the media portrays the Iraqi war correctly. No, the media is the one outlet the First Amendment was created for and instead of using it properly, they hide behind it, she said. “We have the CIA for a reason, yet we don’t use them. We have the strongest military, yet we abuse them,” said Necheles.
            UMB Nursing student Liz Perkins said she does not know any comrades or family that has been killed in Iraq, but she does know several people suffering from PTSD. Perkins believes that only Iraqis can say if it was a justifiable war. “If Coalition troops were withdrawn too quickly from Iraq it would create a power vacuum that may have been filled with a regime as bad as Saddam’s.” She does believe that the surge was successful but how the events that happen next will decide if it is an important war in history.

	Iraq

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

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CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Jan. 22-24, 2010. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
					.
"How important is it to you that the President and Congress deal with each of the following issues in the next year? Will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? The situation in Iraq."
					.
		Extremely Important	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not That Important	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	1/22-24/10	38	36	22	4	-
	5/16-18/09	35	39	20	5	-
	2/18-19/09	43	32	20	4	1
					.
"Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?"
					.
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	1/22-24/10	39	60	1
	11/13-15/09	36	62	2
	6/26-28/09	34	64	2
	5/14-17/09	34	65	1
	4/3-5/09	35	63	1
	2/18-19/09	31	67	2
	12/1-2/08	36	63	1
	10/30 - 11/1/08	33	64	3
	10/17-19/08	32	66	1
	10/3-5/08	34	65	-
	9/5-7/08	37	61	2
	8/29-31/08	35	64	1
	8/23-24/08	33	66	1
	7/27-29/08	33	66	1
	6/26-29/08	30	68	2
	6/4-5/08	30	68	1
	4/28-30/08	30	68	3
	3/14-16/08	32	66	2
	2/1-3/08	34	64	2
	1/14-17/08	34	63	3
	1/9-10/08	33	65	3
	12/6-9/07	31	68	1
	11/2-4/07	31	68	1
	10/12-14/07	34	65	2
	9/7-9/07	34	63	4
	8/6-8/07	33	64	3
	6/22-24/07	30	67	3
	5/4-6/07	34	65	1
	4/10-12/07	32	66	2
	3/9-11/07	32	63	4
	1/11/07	31	67	2
	12/15-17/06	31	67	2
	11/17-19/06	33	63	4
	11/3-5/06	33	61	6
	10/27-29/06	38	59	3
	10/20-22/06	34	64	3
	10/13-15/06	34	64	2
	10/6-8/06	32	62	7
	9/29 - 10/2/06	38	61	1
	9/23-24/06	40	59	1
	8/30 - 9/2/06	39	58	2
	8/18-20/06	35	61	3
	8/2-3/06	36	60	3
	6/14-15/06	38	54	8
					.
"Barack Obama has announced that he will remove most U.S. troops from Iraq by August of this year but keep 35 thousand to 50 thousand troops in that country longer than that. Do you favor or oppose this plan?" 2009: "Barack Obama has announced that he will remove most U.S. troops from Iraq by August of next year but keep 35,000 to 50,000 troops in that country longer than that. Do you favor or oppose this plan?"
					.
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	1/22-24/10	62	36	2
	4/3-5/09	69	30	1
	3/12-15/09	70	29	1

AP-GfK Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. Dec. 10-14, 2009. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.
					.
"How important are the following issues to you personally: not at all important, slightly important, moderately important, very important, or extremely important? How about the situation in Iraq?"
					.
		Extremely Important	Very Important	Moderately Important	Slightly Important	Not at All Important
		%	%	%	%	%
	12/10-14/09	28	36	22	8	5
	11/5-9/09	32	33	20	9	5
	10/1-5/09	30	37	21	9	3
	9/3-8/09	28	35	24	8	5
	7/16-20/09	24	38	25	8	4
	4/16-20/09	29	37	22	7	5
					.
"And please tell me if you approve, disapprove or neither approve nor disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling each of the following issues. How about the situation in Iraq?" If unsure: "If you had to choose, do you lean more toward approving or disapproving of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Iraq?"
					.
		Approve	Disapprove	Neither	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	12/10-14/09	49	40	10	-
	11/5-9/09	46	45	9	-
	10/1-5/09	50	37	13	-
	9/3-8/09	47	41	12	-
	7/16-20/09	56	32	12	-
	4/16-20/09	59	27	12	2
					.
"Do you favor or oppose the war in Iraq?"
					.
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure	Refused
		%	%	%	%
	12/10-14/09	31	65	3	1
	11/5-9/09	30	67	2	1
	10/1-5/09	33	64	2	1
	7/16-20/09	34	63	2	1
					.
"Over the next year, do you expect the situation in Iraq to get better, get worse or stay about the same?"
					.
		Get Better	Get Worse	Stay About the Same	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	12/10-14/09	30	16	53	2