Withdrawal Are Soliders from Iraq or Stay - Essay Example

My 11 September 2006 Withdraw or Fight? American troops should be removed from Iraq in order to enhance global security. Much of the world sees the Iraq war as unjustified, and even as a violation of international law. Troops that are committed in Iraq now are needed in the real war on terror and the search for Bin Laden. The U.S. military also needs to be ready for the more serious challenges of emerging nuclear threats such as Iran. Since the March 20, 2003 invasion, more than 2,654 U.S. troops have died in Iraq (“Faces.”); nearly as many deaths as the 2,973 that died in the 9-11 attacks, which spurred the pre-emptive Iraq war.

The war has created an unexpectedly resilient insurgency in Iraq as well as sectarian violence. Although a new Iraqi government was formed, government in the Anbar province has collapsed and a Marine analyst has recently concluded there is nothing the U.S. can do to improve the situation politically or socially there (Ricks A01). Without a clear rationale or evidence of weapons of mass destruction, and with more proof that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with Al Qaeda, the Iraq war is looking more and more irrelevant to the war on terror in the eyes of the American public. If U.S.

troops are not somehow extricated from Iraq, it appears the situation there will only worsen. Daily bombings of U.S. troops can continue to be expected, as there seems to be no way to eliminate this type of attack. The insurgency grows stronger as a generation of people in the Middle East view the U.S. as occupiers. The growing violence between Sunnis and Shiites is increasingly endangering the ordinary people of Iraq. Opponents of pulling out of Iraq have many legitimate concerns and claims.

For instance, some insist America would be admitting defeat to the terrorists by leaving Iraq. Some claim the U.S. troops are needed in Iraq in order to ensure a democratic government is established there. There is also the claim that since there have been no more attacks on American soil since 9-11, this shows that the war in Iraq is working as a deterrent. Another claim is that keeping troops in Iraq provides Al Qaeda groups with an overseas target in the ongoing terror war, making the American public safer at home, by bringing the war to the enemy.

Each of these concerns and claims should be considered during a pullout of troops from Iraq. The stigma of defeat is harmful to the U.S. image, but the message sent to the world when America conducted a pre-emptive strike against a country was far more damaging to its image and set a destabilizing example in the long run. The consideration of keeping the enemy on the run instead of letting attackers reach America is something our troops should be given the means to accomplish without making themselves easy targets.

In removing troops from Iraq, reductions should take place gradually. The Iraqis should be given the tools to run Iraq, and a timetable should be made for this to happen. Training for Iraqis to provide protection for the people of Iraq should be put into place before U.S. troops leave. But the world needs to see that these steps are indeed occurring, and that the U.S. does not intend to control Iraq for the long term. By leaving Iraq, the U.S. will be taking an important step in making the world safer.

The impetus for fighting the U.S. will largely be removed with Iraq returned to the people of Iraq. The Middle East will be more stable without the U.S. continuing occupation of a country there. And most importantly, the U.S. will be ready for the next challenge of the future.Works Cited“2003 Invasion of Iraq.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 11 Sep. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 11 Sep. 2006 “Faces of the Fallen.” Washingtonpost.com. 11 Sep. 2006. The Washington Post Company. 11 Sep.

2006 Ricks, Thomas E. Situation Called Dire in West Iraq: Anbar is Lost Politically, Marine Analyst Says. The Washington Post. 11 Sep. 2006. p. A01.