by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 2, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

           Handing over security to Iraqi government, the U.S. military completed the beginning of a long and winding road to an exit strategy signed by former President George W. Bush for 2011.  Withdrawing from the cities, the U.S. military helped Iraqis celebrate “Sovereignty Day,” where the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki assumes responsibility its own security.  Amidst the hoopla, with fireworks commemorating “Sovereignty Day,” suspected al-Qaida terrorists truck-bombed an open-air market in the northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk, killing 27.  Only hours before, four U.S. soldiers were killed in action, while troop convoys retreated from Iraqi cities.  “It reminds me that there are still dangers out there,” said Iraq’s top U.S. Commander Gen. Ray Odierno.  Former Vice President Dick Cheney warned that a troop pull out could jeopardize the U.S. mission.

            President Barack Obama promised he would end the Iraq War with dignity, structuring, with close consultation with the Pentagon, an orderly withdrawal.  Cheney insists now that any precipitous pull out of U.S. forces risks dishonoring the 4,321 that lost their lives together with 31,156 serious injuries.  “There are still people out there who do not want the government to succeed,” said Odierno, realizing, as his predecessors former Centcom Commander Gen. John P. Abizaid and former Iraq Commander Gen. William Casey that the violence, sectarian strife and civil war will continue.  Bush and Cheney understood the fragile nature of stability in Iraq.  Former Centcom Commander Gen. David Petreus, responsible for implementing a successful “surge” strategy reducing violence around the country, talked frequently about reversibility.  Now the withdrawal proceeds, only time will tell.

            Barack succeeded during the last election in part because of the connection between the sinking U.S. economy and Iraq War.  Neither Bush and Cheney nor former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made the argument that the Iraq War helped the U.S. economy.  Voters got progressively more frustrated with the endless “moving the goalposts,” leaving McCain in the untenable position of arguing that a U.S. pullout would cause catastrophic consequences.  While there’s sporadic violence, the fact remains that the Iraq government—and people—want the U.S. out no matter what happens.  Celebrating “Sovereignty Day” provides the best evidence that most Iraqis believe that that the U.S. should get out.  History may vindicate Bush in that Iraqis—and the region—are better off without Saddam Hussein, despite Cheney’s call to keep U.S. troops indefinitely.

            McCain argued, during the ’08 campaign, unsuccessfully that a troop withdrawal would doom the region either to an al-Qaida takeover or a bloody civil war.  No one knows yet whether or not his prophecy is true.  Keeping U.S. forces out of the cities won’t give al-Qaida or Saddam loyalists the green light to launch an all-out assault because insurgents know that U.S. forces are still within striking distance.  Between now and 2011, when U.S. troop withdrawals are complete, there less chance of Cheney’s prophecy coming true.  “I hope our forces will be up to the task so we can return to normalcy,” said Ali Moshen, a government worker happy about the U.S. troop withdrawal.  What Moshen and others don’t know is the extent of infiltration into Iraqi security services by militias and insurgents with a hidden agenda of toppling the al-Maliki government.

            Al-Maliki warned opportunists that his government was up to the task of managing Iraqi security.  “Those who think that Iraqis are incapable of protecting security in their country and that the withdrawal of foreign forces will leave a security vacuum which will be difficult for Iraq forces to fill are making a grave mistake,” warning al-Qaida and other Sunni groups that he intends to maintain control.  It was, after all, the security vacuum after the March 20, 2003 invasion, once warned against by Gen. Colin A. Powell in 1991, that thrust Iraq into chaos.  “Iraq’s future is in the hands of its own people,” said Obama, warning of future violence but making it clear that Americans have had enough.  After 4,321 deaths and nearly $1 trillion spent, the American people have sacrificed enough.  Whatever happens in Iraq, it’s not up to the U.S. to continue making painful sacrifices.

            Iraq’s Sovereignty Day marks the beginning of Barack’s exit strategy that no longer accepts past Bush administration mistakes that the U.S. must stay indefinitely or face Armageddon   Obama has no illusions that insurgents and terrorists will continue to strike Iraq.  “The Iraqi people are rightly treating this as a cause for celebration,” said Obama,.  “The future belongs to those who build, not those who destroy,” serving notice that the baton has been passed to Iraqis.   U.S. troops should also celebrate a decisive turning point, handing over the heavy lifting to Iraqis.  U.S. forces have made inordinate sacrifices so that ordinary Iraqis could rule their own destiny.  History may credit Bush with being the great liberator but Iraqis have show clearly they don’t want, no matter what the outcome, the U.S. on Iraqi soil.  Now the exit strategy has begun, the U.S. must never look back.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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