Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

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The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq has been a contentious issue within the United States since the beginning of the Iraq War. A majority of U.S. citizens believe that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a mistake, but popular opinion on what to do now is divided. The Republican-controlled House passed a resolution against withdrawal on June 16, 2006, and President Bush has stated that withdrawal will be a problem for "future presidents." [1]

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[edit] Polling

Immediately before and after the 2003 invasion most polls within the United States showed a substantial majority supporting war, though since December 2004 polls have consistently shown that a majority now thinks the invasion was a mistake. As of 2006, opinion on what the U.S. should do in Iraq is split, with a slight majority generally favoring setting a timetable for withdrawal, but against withdrawing immediately. However, in this area responses vary widely with the exact wording of the question. [2]

[edit] 2004 Presidential election

The issue was one on which John Kerry and George W. Bush differed in the 2004 US Presidential Election. Kerry said in August 2004 that he would make the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq a goal of his first presidential term. However, he did not offer a deadline or a timetable, and proposed an increase in deployment size in the immediate future. In the debate, he said that he reiterated that withdrawal was a goal, if an initial troop increase works.

In the debate, Bush did not offer any timetable or estimate of troops, either increasing or decreasing, but said only that the commanders of the troops in Iraq had the ability to ask for whatever force they needed. In general, this is consistent with his earlier remarks. Whenever questioned about troop strength, Bush and Donald Rumsfeld have said that they are using the troops asked for by the general staff. However, Bush also projected a withdrawal of troops by December of 2004 in August of 2003, and initial projections by Douglas Feith and others were that troops would be drawn down in the summer of 2004 after an easy victory in the war.

[edit] Congressional proposals

On November 17, 2005, Representative John Murtha introduced to the House a resolution calling for U.S. forces in Iraq to be "redeployed at the earliest practicable date" to stand as a quick-reaction force in U.S. bases in neighboring countries such as Kuwait. In response, Republicans proposed a resolution that "the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately," without any provision for redeployment, which was voted down 403-3.

On June 16, 2006, the House of Representatives voted 256-153 in a non-binding resolution against establishing a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R), who argued against a deadline, stated "achieving victory is our only option", and "we must not shy away". On the other hand, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) argued that a deadline is necessary, and stated "'stay the course' is not a strategy, it's a slogan", and "it's time to face the facts". [3]

[edit] ANSWER, NION, UFPJ positions

The three largest coalitions which organized demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), Not in Our Name (NION), and United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), have all called for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops, "out now." The anti-war movement has debated whether to support existing proposals in Congress;

The UFPJ legislative working group has endorsed Murtha's redeployment proposal "because it is a powerful vehicle to begin the debate on the war," though the organization as a whole has not taken a position. [4] ANSWER, on the other hand, has stated that "Murtha has not adopted an antiwar position. He wants to redeploy militarily to strengthen the hand of U.S. imperialism in the Middle East." [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/03/22/bush_says_iraq_pullout_up_to_future_presidents/
  2. ^ http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm
  3. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13338901/
  4. ^ http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/LAN%20call%202-6-6.doc
  5. ^ http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=7433

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

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