Iraq
Shrine Ali Najaf |
The presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is the number one cause of violence, terrorism, and the increasing slide towards civil war. The most extreme elements that have carried out suicide bombings against civilians and have been pushing Iraq closer to open civil war derive their legitimacy from their opposition to the U.S. troops. When American soldiers leave, that legitimacy will fade and the chances for a peaceful, negotiated solution will increase.
Press reports of negotiations between insurgents and the United States indicate that a major sticking point for the insurgents is that the Americans won't offer a timetable for their withdrawal. A range of polls show the majority of the Iraqis, as high as 82 percent in a recent poll by the British Defense Ministry, want the U.S. troops out. Our government doesn't want to leave until it can be assured of an Iraqi government that it can control. But that is not going to happen. Our urgent priority is to pressure our government to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq this year.
A veto-proof majority of U.S. Congressional districts contain a voting majority that want a timetable for withdrawal. See if your district favors withdrawal.
Casualties
- U.S. Deaths as of August 6, 2007: 3671 (Iraq Coalition Casualty Count)
- U.S. Wounded as of September 30, 2006: 26,558 (Iraq
Coalition Casualty Count)
(note that the ICC page gives breakdowns by U.S. state) - Johns Hopkins study estimates an additional 655,000 Iraqis died as a result of the invasion and occupation, between May 2003 and July 2006.
- Updated estimate of Iraqi deaths
from Just Foreign Policy:
For recent news on Iraq, see our newsroom.
