With the imminent removal of ISIS from Iraq, the US cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes
By Hollie McKay, Fox News:
Throughout the long history of what is now the Republic of Iraq the nation has been routinely invaded, occupied and battle-torn by both foreigners and its own despotic regimes, the most recent being ISIS. But once the Muslim extremists are driven from the country – which is likely to be the case in a few months or less – will the nation be ready to finally stand on its own? Or is a continued U.S. military presence a security necessity?
“We are here at the request of the government of Iraq to aid in the defeat of ISIS,” a U.S. military spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve, the official name of the mission to defeat ISIS, told Fox News. “Future operations will be dependent upon the needs of the government of Iraq.”
However, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis took a more affirmative stance last month when he testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, stating that it would be an error to cite victory and simply leave, as was the case in 2011, and then “find the same lesson.” Similarly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has voiced the importance of retaining U.S. troops to avoid an ISIS-type re-emergence.
While these U.S. voices are in agreement, the matter deeply divides the Iraqi people themselves.
Nseeif Al-Khattabi, governor of the Holy Karbala Province Council, told Fox News that he is for political and diplomatic relations with the U.S. rather than a military one.
“Let us pick our destiny,” he said, noting that it would be better for Iraq not to have outside interference.
Muoaed al Bahadely, a 30-year-old from Baghdad, said that he is against the U.S. presence because it is a “clear game to create terrorist groups that say they are Muslim, but it is orchestrated to destroy Islam” – citing the American creation of the 1970’s Mujahedeen to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.
However, the majority of Iraqis that Fox News spoke to across the country seemed to be in favor of the U.S. remaining for the longer haul.
“If America had stayed after 2011, nothing like ISIS coming in would have happened,” lamented Baghdad native Ahmed Naeem. “Let’s stop the cheap talk and agree that the American withdrawal cost us heavily, and the blood of our kids.”
Moreover, Mazan Obedi, a 28-year-old from Baghdad, advocated for U.S. troops remaining in the “style of Japan, Germany and Korea” after WWll and Korean war, respectively, “not only so ISIS cannot come back” but also to “put pressure on Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar” to not sponsor terrorists. Masereen Saed also said those who “tried to sell heroism against America” – like Cuba – ultimately fared far less well than the likes of other countries that aligned with the U.S.
And Yahiya Akbar, a 24-year-old college student, cited monetary reasons for supporting the U.S staying.
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