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Exiting Iraq: Why the U.S. Must End the Military Occupation and Renew the War Against Al Qaeda
With the continuing U.S. occupation of Iraq, a special task force of scholars and policy experts calls into question the Bush administration's intention to stay as long as necessary. In this joint statement, the members argue that the presence of troops in Iraq distracts attention from fighting Al Qaeda and emboldens a new class of terrorists to take up arms against the United States. The task force's findings are essential reading for anyone concerned with the ongoing conflict and the war on terrorism
98 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2004
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February 11, 2011
2004, This CATO Institute report focuses on realistically defining vital US security interests as`protecting the lives and well-being of Americans'. This is a post-attack strategy that does not look to answer any questions prior to military engagement. This report details not only how military occupation of Iraq is detrimental, but also details an exit stretegy – recommending a complete withdrawal by January 2006.
We often hear about the clarity of hindsight. This report was drawn up in the moment with foresight. The report was widely shared through all levels of government, and after reading this analysis myself, I am of the opinion that for the sake of protecting the lives, liberties, dignity, economy, and well-being of Americans, at least in considerable part, this report should have been treated with the utmost importance.
"There is no economic imperative for keeping troops there. The American military presence is not essential, and might even be detrimental, to ensuring access to Persian Gulf oil. ... US policy in the Persian Gulf should not be based on the assumption that the region's energy resources will not make it to market absent the presence of US troops. Oil is the principal source of revenue for the Persian Gulf countries; they could not withhold it from world markets without committing economic suicide."
"The military occupation of Iraq is counterproductive to winning the war on terrorism, enormously costly, militarily and economically unnecessary, and politically unsustainable. ... it emboldens anti-American terrorists to expand their operations, both against the forces in their neighbourhood and ultimately on American soil. And the presence of an American military garrison in Iraq weakens the forces of democratic reform by undermining an indigenous government's authority and credibility."
"Iraq is many years away from becoming a stable unified democracy, and there is nothing that the United States can do to alter this state of affairs." A democratic Middle East is a `chimera'...
We often hear about the clarity of hindsight. This report was drawn up in the moment with foresight. The report was widely shared through all levels of government, and after reading this analysis myself, I am of the opinion that for the sake of protecting the lives, liberties, dignity, economy, and well-being of Americans, at least in considerable part, this report should have been treated with the utmost importance.
"There is no economic imperative for keeping troops there. The American military presence is not essential, and might even be detrimental, to ensuring access to Persian Gulf oil. ... US policy in the Persian Gulf should not be based on the assumption that the region's energy resources will not make it to market absent the presence of US troops. Oil is the principal source of revenue for the Persian Gulf countries; they could not withhold it from world markets without committing economic suicide."
"The military occupation of Iraq is counterproductive to winning the war on terrorism, enormously costly, militarily and economically unnecessary, and politically unsustainable. ... it emboldens anti-American terrorists to expand their operations, both against the forces in their neighbourhood and ultimately on American soil. And the presence of an American military garrison in Iraq weakens the forces of democratic reform by undermining an indigenous government's authority and credibility."
"Iraq is many years away from becoming a stable unified democracy, and there is nothing that the United States can do to alter this state of affairs." A democratic Middle East is a `chimera'...
Displaying 1 of 1 review