Protests in Baghdad should be the final straw in America’s long occupation of Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 31, 2019
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, The New York Times reported protesters in Iraq storming the American embassy in Baghdad, a reaction to the airstrikes conducted in Iraq by the U.S. earlier this week. Defense Priorities Policy Director Benjamin H. Friedman issued the following statement in response:

“The storming of the U.S. embassy compound by Iraqi protesters today should be the final straw in our long occupation of Iraq. It’s time to get U.S. troops out. ISIS’s defeat should have marked the start of American withdrawal from the region. Why are U.S. forces still in Iraq? Keeping 5,000 troops in Iraq, let alone 500 in Syria, isn’t nearly enough troops to deal with the trouble bombing people to defend them kicks off. The mission obviously angers Iraqis, while fostering resentment among locals who would otherwise have no opportunity to harm Americans.

“The U.S. history in Iraq and the broader region over the past few decades shows the profound error of keeping large numbers of U.S. forces there. It’s a recipe for resentment and involvement in avoidable trouble. It’s time to adopt a far more restrained, offshore approach. The limited U.S. interests in the Middle East can be protected without maintaining a permanent military presence there.”

Author

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities