Future Role of Iraq in the Global War on Terrorism: Divining the Strategy

摘要

The catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, actively thrust the U.S. Government into a war against terrorism, principally against the form of terrorism most closely associated with radical Islam, born in the Middle East region. President George W. Bush launched the war on terror with Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM in an effort to kill or capture the perpetrators of the latest terror attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., with the ultimate goal of eradicating terrorism against the United States as a feasible option for groups or nation-states that wish harm upon it. Operation IRAQI FREEDOM set out to topple the Saddam Hussein regime, liberate the Iraqi people, and enable the growth of a free and representative Iraqi government. However, the administration's strategy aims to rapidly withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq after a secure environment is attained and self-sustaining Iraqi rule is established, thus leaving the fledgling government to its own devices. An effective strategy to ensure a productive role for Iraq in the war on terror hinges upon the continued presence of U.S. military forces in that country. (55 refs.).