Troops From Iraq the War

¶ … troops from Iraq

The war in Iraq has been from its very beginning in 2003 one of the most debated upon issues of foreign policy in the U.S. Administration. There are various stands on the situation varying from maintaining the troops on the ground to their immediate withdrawal. However, the American public opinion is seen as having taken a decisive stand on the matter. Nonetheless, it remains a rather sensitive topic, taking into account the eventual consequences. Despite this aspect, still, there is a stringent need for a reconsideration of the Iraq policy and the eventual withdrawal of the American troops from that war zone.

The public opinion is an important and most often decisive element in framing foreign policy in America. This is why the acceptance vote given by it to the war in Iraq in March 2003 represented more or less the popular choice on an issue that involved sending U.S. troops in a complex battle ground. Therefore, it can be considered that the intervention in Iraq was legitimate from the point-of-view of the electorate. However, as the war became increasingly violent and the number of casualties mounted, the public opinion started to lose the trust and confidence in the U.S. actions in Iraq. As a consequence, recent polls show a dramatic fall in the acceptance level of the policy being followed in Iraq. Thus, according to a Gallup poll from 2006, more than half of the ones interviewed considered "it wasn't worth going to war" in the first place (CNN, 2006). Indeed, the poll was conducted during a period in which the sectarian violence in the territory had caused many casualties; nonetheless it was relevant for the general opinion the public opinion was able to express. Moreover, the same poll suggested a decline in the trust people had over the appropriate guidelines for the policy in Iraq, taking into account the fact that fifty three percent of the respondents considered the war to be heading in a negative direction.

Another survey is even more relevant for establishing the general view of the public in terms of agreeing or disagreeing with the war. In this sense, a research conducted by Public Opinion has concluded that the confidence level in an eventual stable and democratic Iraq is slightly decreasing, as 51% of the people questioned consider there is little the U.S. can do to in order to build a democratic Iraq. Moreover, there seems to be a decrease in the number of those who consider that the war effort is benefic and necessary, from 39% in 2005, to 22% in 2007 (Public Agenda, 2007). In terms of the possibility of a troop withdrawal, the poll shows that seven out of ten people questioned want the troops withdrew, 19% of them demanding an immediate withdrawal, while 49% considering it as solution in the next 12 months. However, one of the most interesting things is the fact that more than half of the people question the truth told by the authorities in the Iraq situation. Therefore, this can be seen as an important signal for the level of trust people have in the authorities. Nonetheless, there is a clear desire from the public opinion to withdraw the troops.

Aside from the important position of the public opinion, there are other facts that must be taken as well into consideration, among which the actual situation on the ground, and most importantly the situation of the political and military coalition which declared war on Iraq in 2003.

The situation in Iraq at the moment, according to non-official sources can be characterized by an overall civil war. It is not only the matter of the Sunni vs. The Shia but also the insurgents against the government which is considered to be limited in its power. From the early months following the insurgencies, there were numerous forces that tried to prevent the maintenance of the U.S. troops on the ground. Thus, the insurgencies tried to target the U.S. troops as a means of breaching the control of the Coalition. At the same time however, there were also attacks on the Iraqi government which is considered to still be a puppet in the hands of the Westerners (Lind, 2004) Therefore, the fact that the Al Maliki government lacks the popular legitimacy can be seen as a weak point in the political system. However, an eventual troop withdrawal from Iraq could prove benefic in this way because it would send the message of a completely independent government, without western ties and consultations.

Another reason which would make the withdrawal of U.S. troops important would be from the perspective of the United States. At the moment the war cost more than many officials had expected. According to unofficial sources the financial cost rose to "$500 billion in spending, at a rate now of more $2 billion a week" (King, 2007). The initial price of the war in Iraq had been considered by the White House to be at around $60 billion, although officials from the Administration admitted at the time of the invasion in 2003 that there could be no absolute measure for the costs of the war (Bash, 2003).

Notwithstanding the inability of the Administration to foresee such costs, there are other additional elements which make the war in Iraq appear to be a lost cause and would demand a withdrawal of the troops. For instance, the high number of victims in the American camp has made the public opinion withdraw the support for the war. In this sense, according to certain voices, there are "more than 3,500 Americans (who) have died in Iraq (and) more than 25,000 have been wounded" (King, 2007). From this perspective it is important to consider the eventuality of the withdrawal of troops because the Bush Administration cannot afford to support even more casualties among the Americans. Should the death toll rise, the Vietnam syndrome can reappear in the American society, a possibility which may determine a completely reconsideration of both foreign policy and the governing party in Washington.

Yet another argument for withdrawing the troops from the Iraqi territory is the fact that they are seen at the moment as incapable of achieving the aims set at the start of the mission, that of creating a democratic state in Iraq. There is little evidence to show a successful military campaign of the Coalition. As a result of this perception, more and more countries have already withdrawn their troops. States including Poland, Denmark, and Bulgaria have stated their intention to bring back home their militaries. Even U.S.'s strongest ally, Great Britain, announced the pull out of 1600 troops (Jordan and Partlow, 2007).