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Iraq: The Petraeus Report, 10/1/07
Key Lecture Points:
• In 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq to topple to government of Saddam Hussein, and establish a democratic political system. Since that time Americans have fiercely debated US strategy in Iraq, focusing in particular on US efforts to quell ethno-sectarian violence, efforts to transfer security responsibility to Iraqis, efforts to establish a democracy, and the proper level of US troop strength in the country.
• As the war wears on, it has become increasingly clear to Americans that the situation in Iraq is incredibly complex. A country historically divided along ethnic and religious lines, and historically a place for competing imperial ambitions, Iraq has emerged in the post-Saddam era as a society for which establishing law and order and reconciling political differences at times appears impossible.
• The December 2006 report by the Iraq Study Group argued that US Iraq strategy, up to that point, had been flawed and had contributed to rising levels of anti-US, sectarian, ethnic, insurgent and intra-sectarian violence. The Group called for regional diplomatic initiatives, and a timeline for troop withdrawal following an initial ‘surge’. Much to the ire of Congressional Democrats, only the surge recommendation was followed by the President. A temporary increase of 30,000 troops was announced in January 2007, placing US troop levels at about 160,000.
• In September 2007 the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, testified before Congress, arguing that the surge was successful, that a timeline for withdrawal was “premature”, that a US presence in Iraq would likely have to continue for some time, and that the Iraqi government was successfully taking over security operations. Testimony of the US Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, essentially reaffirmed these opinions. Crucially, Petraeus recommended that almost 6,000 troops be removed from Iraq by Christmas, and that troop strength may be down to pre-surge levels by summer 2008.
• On September 15th, 2007, President Bush delivered a radio address in which he accepted the recommendations of Petraeus, and called for another status report from the General in March 2008, at which time the matter of troop levels can again be assessed. The President said, “The principle that guides my decisions on troop levels is "return on success." The more successful we are, the more troops can return home. And in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy.”
• While most Congressional Republicans have asserted their support for the President, Crocker and Petraeus, Congressional Democrats are angry. In particular, Democrats are attempting to introduce several pieces of legislation into both the House and the Senate in the hopes of forcing the President’s hand on troop withdrawal. Democrats also expressed deep skepticism about Petraeus and Crocker’s assessments of Iraq, arguing instead that US progress has been nonexistent.
• Further, the military itself is divided on Iraq strategy, with some officials suggesting that keeping such high troop levels in Iraq is too risky for the US, as there are insufficient forces to combat other national security threats elsewhere (e.g. Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, etc).
Exploration Questions:
• How does the history of Iraq complicate the effort to create a self-sustaining government in the wake of the Hussein era?
• What are the arguments in favor and in opposition to dividing Iraq into three separate states?
• What are the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq?
Reflective Question:
• Have you ever traveled to Iraq? If so, what do you recall about the experience?
• Are there elements of the Iraqi civilization that intrigue you? The art? The history? The architecture?
For More Information:
• Petraeus Report: www.defenselink.mil
• Crocker Report: http://ap.google.com
• ISG Report (Dec. 2006): http://www.usip.org
• White House report on Iraqi political progress: www.latimes.com
• President Bush’s radio address on Iraq: www.whitehouse.gov
Books For Further Reading:
• Tripp, Charles. A History of Iraq. Cambridge University Press, 2007. 386 pages.
Description: This book has become a seminal historical work on Iraq, particularly as Tripp, in the first edition in 2000, foreshadowed the current conflict in the country and the obstacles confronting US forces there. The praise of this book from students and journalists alike speaks to its readability for non-academics.
Click here to order.
• Wood, Trish. What Was Asked of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It. Back Bay Books, forthcoming (available for pre-order). 336 pages.
Description: Already set to be a bestseller, this book chronicles the Iraq war through interviews with US soldiers in Iraq. The New York Times Review of Books calls it: “A visceral account of the war . . . honest, agenda-free, and chilling."
Click here to order.
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