Exiting Iraq : why the U.S. must end the military occupation and renew the war against Al Qaeda : report of a special task force

With the continuing U.S. occupation of Iraq, a special task force of scholars and policy experts calls into question the Bush administration's intention to stay as long as necessary. In this joint statement, the members argue that the presence of troops in Iraq distracts attention from fighting Al Qaeda and emboldens a new class of terrorists to take up arms against the United States. The task force's findings are essential reading for anyone concerned with the ongoing conflict and the war on terrorism Within months of the United States and its coalition partners toppling Saddam Husseins government, the Cato Institute convened a special task force of scholars and policy experts to examine U.S. strategic interests in Iraq and to question the Bush administrations intention to 2stay as long as necessary. 3 The result of their efforts was a book of their analysis that was published near the one-year anniversary of the occupation -- Exiting Iraq. As the war now enters its fourth year, Exiting Iraq remains as clear and incisive as ever, with the added dimension of its being so prophetic in what it saw, predicted, and urgently recommended. In addition to the members (listed below) of the special task force calling for the military occupation to end they showed how the presence of troops in Iraq distracts attention from fighting al-Qaeda and emboldens a new class of terrorists to take up arms against the United States. Moreover, the report underscores how the occupation is enormously costly for American taxpayers, exposes our men and women in uniform to unnecessary risks, and undermines attempts to foster political and economic reform in the region. - Publisher

with No End To The U.s. Occupation Of Iraq In Sight, A Special Task Force Of Scholars And Policy Experts Call Into Question The Bush Administration S Intention To Stay As Long As Necessary. In This Joint Statement, The Members Assert That The Presence Of Troops In Iraq Distracts Attention From Fighting Al Qaeda And Emboldens A New Class Of Terrorists To Take Up Arms Against The United States. The Task Force S Findings Are Essential Reading For Anyone Concerned With The Ongoing Conflict In Iraq Within The Broader Context Of Middle East Peace And The War On Terrorism. Special Task Force Members: Subodh Atal, Andrew J. Bacevich, Doug Bandow, Ted Galen Carpenter, Jonathan Clarke, Michael Desch, Leon Hadar, Charles Peña, Christopher Preble, And William Ruger.

Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 FOREWORD......Page 10 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......Page 14 INTRODUCTION......Page 18 1. A LONG-TERM MILITARY OCCUPATION OF IRAQ IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES......Page 24 2. THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ADDRESSING THE TERROR THREAT......Page 32 3. A LONG-TERM MILITARY OCCUPATION IS BURDENSOME, RISKY AND ULTIMATELY UNSUSTAINABLE......Page 48 4. ADEMOCRATIC MIDDLE EAST IS A CHIMERA......Page 58 5. HOW WE GET OUT......Page 66 CONCLUSION......Page 82 NOTES......Page 86 TASK FORCE MEMBERS......Page 94 Christopher Preble is director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. A former commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, he is a veteran of the Gulf War, having served on the USS Ticonderoga from 1990 to 1993. Gives comprehensive arguments about why the United States must end the military occupation of Iraq and renew the war against Al-Qaeda.