A Thesis Paper on the War in Iraq

Composition II

Should we pull out?

A Thesis Paper on The War in Iraq

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

America's Thoughts 1

Progression in Iraq 5

Final Thoughts 6

Conclusion 7

Bibliography 9

 

SHOULD WE PULL OUT?

Pick up any newspaper or point your web browser to any major or minor news publication and questions like these will be all over them. A lot of Americans feel that the War on Terror and our presence in Iraq has lasted too long. Are they correct? Should we pull out and call it quits? Should we have another repeat of the Vietnam War? Believe it or not, that's how a lot of people view this war, as another Vietnam. They feel that we are out there, putting the American nose into something that shouldn't be picked. But they are not entirely true.

[I] feel that the war in Iraq was a justifiable one and that it was something that was needed. Saddam Hussein was a dictator who ruled with an iron fist and if someone opposed him or he didn't like anyone, he found a way to "eliminate" them. He was starting to become a threat not only to himself, but to his neighboring countries. Back in the early 1990's, he was a threat to Kuwait and we helped quell that conflict, but because the American public did not want the troops or the president to go any further, they held back for one reason or the other.

The War in Iraq has sparked an abundance of criticism since its start in March of 2003. Now, four year later, the criticism has only intensified. The fact of the matter is that upon invasion of Iraq four years ago, the reasons were justifiable based on the evidence at hand. Our American troops, some 3,386 of our armed service members have given their lives for a cause that they felt was just, according to an Associated Press count that was conducted on Friday, May 11, 2007 (Associated Press, 2007). The devastating number is a cruel reminder as to how dangerous a war can be in general, but even more so when guerrilla warfare is present. In general, the majority of surveys conducted nationwide, showed that the public feel that the war has gone on a much greater period of time than anticipated, and now want the American troops to come home. The question at hand is how to withdraw the troops, safely, without leaving the country of Iraq with devastating effects. Officials may speculate amongst themselves and debate the matter in full intensity, but no answer has ever been reached.

As the months go on, more and more evidence is apparent to the general public as to why we have staked our stay in Iraq so long. Among these reasons is the fact that President George W. Bush said point blank that America was not into nation rebuilding, but now it seems as if that is our main reason for staying in Iraq. Sadaam Hussein was taken out of his position, where he caused such an enormous threat to the United States and Iraq's neighboring countries, and executed. Top key Al-Qaeda members have been either captured or killed, and the country now has elected officials, and now progress in the country slowing advancing. Critics may say that the War in Iraq has not put the country in any better state than it was in, has made it worse in some cases, but that all is simply not true. Women and children now have the ability to get an education, families are earning incomes now to better support their dependants, and residents are now getting the right to vote. Even before the United States invaded Iraq for the welfare of the Iraqi people, bloodshed was seen all too often. As with any war or major conflict, time will only tell what will come of all the bloodshed. There is no telling whether or not a Civil War may result from the United States pulling out of Iraq too soon, but if so, it is their battle to overcome. When the United States had their Civil War between the North and the South in the 1800's, only the United States was involved, not other countries. We fought our battle and both sides lost lives defending what they felt to be true (many, many more than the War in Iraq, I might add), and in the end, now we see that it was beneficial for the American way of life (Codevilla, 2005).

Some critics say that we are only still in Iraq for reasons that deal with Iraq's oil industry. According to an interview that was conducted with a Chairman from Chevron/Texaco, Iraq's supply has rapidly decreased in productivity since the war began (O'Reilly, 2007). Under the dictatorship of Sadaam Hussein, billions of dollars worth of oil was being produced, now only a very small percentage is being produced, due to the blowing up of the oil fields. The United States is not benefiting from their oil industry as some might otherwise think.

Upon examination of various debates that are currently underway in Congress to withdraw troops, I feel that it is not feasible to pull out all troops suddenly from the country (Associated Press, 2007). By considering a deliberate pullout, "This is a prescription for chaos and confusion and we must not impose it on our troops," Bush said in a nationally broadcast statement from the White House (Associated Press, 2007). A slow, lengthy withdrawal seems to be the best solution for the matter at hand. How Iraqis, in general, will react to the withdrawal process should be a top priority. By slowly withdrawing the troops, gives the Iraqis time to adjust to a life that will not have the protection of the United States armed forced members around the corner, as the majority of them have been accustomed to over the past four years. There is no telling if violence will increase by the insurgents or decrease because of the American troops leaving the country, but the main reasoning for us invading has been resolved and now, we, our military, must clean up to the best of their ability and withdraw in the most adjustable fashion as possible, so the Iraqi government can pick up with what has been taught to them and defend their country. Yes, there will be flaws and uncertainties but there has not been

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