Parameters of the Debate
The November 18th vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a Republican-sponsored resolution for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq was a political gambit and not the foundation of a serious debate. Families of the Fallen for Change calls for an end to the posturing and the start of real debate over questions that our involvement in Iraq raise for the near and long-term stability of the Middle East. This debate should be conducted by appropriate committees in the U.S. House and Senate and in public forums.
As well, the public deserves a debate that focuses on alternatives to the current either/or debate of staying the course or unilateral and complete withdrawal. One alternative is "Strategic Redeployment" voiced by Lawrence Korb and Brian Katulis, in a report for the Center for American Progress on September 29, 2005. Their report is listed on our home page.
Questions that should be considered are these:
1. Should the U.S. set a deadline for withdrawal of troops?
2. What would a deadline mean for security of U.S. troops in Iraq?
3. Would U.S. troops become ineffective if a deadline is set?
4. Is Iraq stable now?
5. Would Iraqi security forces be able to fight the insurgency on their own if they had to after a U.S. withdrawal?
6. Can Iraqi security forces be trusted to support the new regime?
7. Would Iraq have a civil war if the U.S. withdraws?
8. What are the implications for Middle East stability if Iraq has a civil war?
9. If Iraq has a civil war, what are the implications for Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia?
10. Should other international parties be involved in guaranteeing stability for the new Iraqi government?
11. If so, who might those parties be?
12. What else can the United States do to effect a stable, secure Iraq?
You can contribute to a serious discussion of these questions by sending us your comments. As well, please tell us if there are other issues to be considered. Click here to send your comments.