Is The Iraq War Really Over?

Seven years ago, President George W. Bush infamously proclaimed combat in Iraq at an end while standing in front of a ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner. To many, the announcement was premature, celebrating the end of a war that would not be finished for years to come. The backlash from the ‘Mission Accomplished’ incident was enough to make Bush disavow his banner.

Now, years later, President Obama’s declaration of the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom is much more subdued. He has seen the mistakes of his predecessor and has done his best to avoid them. His declaration is accompanied by no banners or bold declarations of victory. Instead, the president’s speech, delivered Aug. 31 from the Oval Office, calmly detailed the history of the Iraq conflict and explained what the role of the United States will be in building Iraq’s future. While he proclaimed the end of the combat mission in Iraq, he also acknowledged that we are far from being done with the Middle-Eastern country.

“Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is not,” Obama said.

The plan, a time-table that was approved during the summer, was for all combat forces to be withdrawn from Iraq by Aug. 31. The number of troops decreased from 144,000 when President Obama was sworn into office down to the current 50,000, according to the New York Times. The United States has also set a deadline of Dec. 1, 2011, for the withdrawal of all military forces.

In truth, our war with Iraq is far from over. With the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom comes Operation New Dawn, in which the 50,000 non-combat troops left in Iraq will be tasked with assisting the Iraqi security forces and supporting their troops.

Until all of our troops are home, we cannot say that the war is over. Although the remaining troops in Iraq are classified as “non-combat” troops, the reality is that they are still out in a war zone, risking their lives in order to aid the Iraqis. They will even continue to be in combat operations, although they are given a different name.

“What soldiers today would call combat operations – hunting insurgents, joint raids between Iraqi security forces and United States Special Forces to kill or arrest militants – will continue but be called ‘stability operations,’” said Steven Lee Meyers of the New York Times.

If our troops are still risking their lives in dangerous missions and areas, is it really fair to say that we have ended our combat mission in Iraq? Sure, we have significantly decreased the number of military personnel in the region, but that alone does not signify the end of a war.

Of course, with the upcoming elections, it is important politically for Obama to ostensibly fulfill one of his campaign promises—to end the war in Iraq—in order to win support for his party. Perhaps even more importantly, the president announced his intentions to focus primarily on the economy now that the war is completed, addressing the concerns of many American citizens.

Even if the military combat in Iraq were over, we would still be a nation at war because of Afghanistan. The conflict in Afghanistan is the longest war in United States history, lasting for almost nine years so far. President Obama has sent mixed messages about the United States’ future with Afghanistan—on one hand, he reaffirmed his vow to find and destroy Al Qaeda during his Oval Office speech, but he has also supported a withdrawal of troops from the region beginning in July 2011.

Although the United States has expressed its desire to pull out of the region, it is unclear whether this will be feasible. 9/11 is still a painful memory for many Americans, and the desire to smoke out Osama bin Laden and his conspirators remains strong. It would be impossible for the president to both continue the hunt of Al Qaeda members and pull out of the area. The withdrawal is also hugely controversial, and if he follows through with the plan, he may face a negative backlash from the public.

The United States is not at peace. Operation Iraqi Freedom may be over, but we still have numerous troops overseas as part of Operation New Dawn and fighting in Afghanistan. Our soldiers have given their lives to keep us safe and to promote freedom, and it is disingenuous to say that the conflict has ended when they are still in danger. Until all American troops are safe and sound in their homes, the war goes on.

Angst in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan first began in 2001 as a response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The United States first demanded that the Taliban government close all terrorist training camps and operations in the country, in addition to handing over all al-Qaeda leaders to the United States. When the Taliban refused and offered to try Osama Bin Laden in an Islamic court of justice instead, the United States began its military occupation. The United Nations did not authorize the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan, which essentially sought to oust the Taliban regime running the country, find Osama Bin Laden and his supporters and take down Al-Qaeda as a whole. Not an easy task.

The United States also refused the Taliban’s suggestion to surrender bin Laden to another country for a just trial in exchange for a halt in U.S. Air Force bombing and proof that the suspect had been behind the attacks. Former President George W. Bush stated, “There’s no need to discuss innocence or guilt. We know he’s guilty.” The Taliban have lost control over the country, which is now governed tenuously by President Hamid Karzai. However, approximately 100 members of al-Qaeda still remain in Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden has not been found.

The U.S. troops occupy the northern and southern parts of the country bordering Pakistan, which has also become a haven for terrorists. The United States has also gained the support of NATO through the formation of the International Security Assistance Force, which is a coalition of multiple countries that works to secure the country’s capital, Kabul. U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal heads the operation. The most difficult aspect of the Afghanistan war has been the methods used by terrorist insurgents. Jihadists sacrifice themselves through suicide bombings. The insurgents also employ guerrilla warfare techniques, launching raids across the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Because of this, President Karzai has stated that his army will not be ready to fight on its own against the insurgency for another five years; he has requested U.S. security support for another 15 to 20 years.

In the midst of the violence, the presidential elections in August proved extremely dangerous for citizens. The Taliban launched various attacks on polling places and civilians, dramatically decreasing voter turnout. Both presidential candidates Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory. Though Karzai was declared the winner, accusations of fraud discounted about 400,000 of his votes. Because of the widespread corruption and weak leadership of Karzai’s government, his election has been hotly disputed.

Despite Obama’s well-intentioned work to finally bring peace to the region, the war in Afghanistan is simply not worth fighting. The fact that the United States funnels billions of dollars into the second most corrupt government in the world defies logic and reason. The Taliban have strengthened in number and guerilla warfare tactics since the United States began its occupation; ordinary civilians lack basic resources, as 70 percent do not have access to clean water. As Afghan author Malai Joya states, “Eight years ago, the U.S. and NATO — under the banner of women’s rights, human rights, and democracy — occupied my country and pushed us from the frying pan into the fire. Eight years is enough to know better about the corrupt, mafia system of President Hamid Karzai. My people are crushed between two powerful enemies. From the sky, occupation forces bomb and kill civilians … and on the ground, the Taliban and warlords continue their crimes. It is better that they leave my country; my people are that fed up. Occupation will never bring liberation, and it is impossible to bring democracy by war.”

Instead, the United States must first demand that President Karzai address the widespread corruption taking place in his government, threatening to withhold troops and resources if he refuses. With the help of U.S. intelligence, Karzai must conduct an internal government review and wipe the slate clean of dishonest officials. The drug trade provides over half of the country’s income. Many of the highest-ranking members of Karzai’s government are drug traffickers, as Afghanistan produces the most opium in the world. However, if the drug trade were eliminated, the 3.3 million Afghanis who farm poppies as their livelihoods would be thrown into extreme poverty. Thus, the United States must help the country to find alternative, stable sources of income, such as producing opium for medical purposes.

The United States must then focus its military resources on training the Afghan army to stand on its own, allowing them to take control. One in every four combat soldiers quit the army from 2008 to 2009, and many soldiers are illiterate and uneducated in the basics of fighting. By strengthening its efforts in Afghan training camps, the U.S. government can ensure a greater soldier training success rate and boost the Afghan army’s credibility. When its own army is fighting against terrorism, civilian support may increase. President Obama can then refocus the billions of taxpayer dollars streaming into Afghanistan into lessening the United States’ debts. He will also enjoy increased public support, as a December 2009 Pew Research Center poll found that only 32 percent of Americans favored increased troops in Afghanistan. Tribal leaders in Afghanistan are also protesting the United States’ continued presence, saying that they would rather negotiate with the Taliban than continue the civilian casualties prompted by military skirmishes. General Stanley McChrystal has pledged to reduce the number of airstrikes and home raids that harm civilians. After working to eradicate the government’s corruption and giving control to the Afghani military, the United States should continue to provide aid for human rights purposes. In a country where only ten percent of women are literate and 17 percent report sexual assault, funds must be provided for education. Only by providing resources for Afghani citizens to help themselves can the country see true change.