My opponent, and many other pro-war Democrats, will say that we cannot pull our troops out immediately. That position rests on a number of myths:

The first myth: We have to stay to prevent a civil war.

 

There already is a civil war in Iraq—a civil war that the U.S. created, and one we aren’t preventing by staying there. The war virtually guaranteed a civil war between the Shiites and the Sunnis—and we are making things worse.

The only course of action is prompt withdrawal, during which a UN Security Council-backed real coalition of truly willing countries attempts to work to stablilize the country. In fact, as long as the U.S. remains in Iraq, many Sunni leaders worry about being branded traitors and collaborators. As Rep. John Murtha, a recognized military affairs expert, recently said, the presence of U.S. forces is “uniting the enemy against us.” An announced immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces would create space for Sunnis to participate in the government of Iraq.

 

The second myth: If the U.S. left, the insurgency would be bolstered and destroy efforts to build a democracy.

 

The insurgency thrives on one thing: resistance to the occupation. Once the U.S. leaves, a significant part of the insurgency will dissipate. The lion's share of the insurgency has no connection to the more radical, non-Iraqi, elements led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

    But, let's also be clear about one thing: it is complete nonsense to tell the American people that Iraq is building some sort of liberal, constitutional democracy. The U.S. invasion of Iraq has created a theocracy, which, among other things, sees women as second-class citizens. The people of Iraq have the right to decide what law they choose to follow. But, the American people should not be misled about what system is evolving in Iraq. We can supervise elections under the protection of armed forces, but they cannot be seriously equated as a first step to a democracy.

 

The third myth is: The U.S. would lose its credibility around the world.

 

We have already done that by launching the war. Only by withdrawing our troops and turning the future of Iraq over to a real international coalition will the U.S. begin to repair its image.

 

The fourth myth is: Leaving would turn Iraq into a haven for terrorists.

 

Guess what? The barn door has already been opened. Our being in Iraq has created the haven and Iraq is now a magnet for terrorists thanks to the war. The longer we stay in Iraq, the more Iraq will grow as a haven for terrorists. Many of the foreign fighters will find themselves unwelcome once the U.S. leaves. Iraqis are fiercely nationalistic but want no part of the Jihadist call-to-arms espoused by the foreign fighters.

 

The fifth myth is: Immediate withdrawal undermines our troops and does not honor their sacrifice.

 

As the former head of the National Security Agency, William Odom, has said, “Many US officers in Iraq, especially at company and field grade levels, know that while they are winning every tactical battle, they are losing strategically.”

The men and women in uniform have served their country. The best way to honor their service is by immediately bringing them home alive. I believe it is unpatriotic to leave the troops there for a single day longer--fighting an unjust, dangerous war.

 

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