WAND Executive Director Susan Shaer on the Iraq War

Could the Iraq war finally draw to a close?

Originally published March 2009

WAND applauds President Barack Obama for announcing the U.S. combat mission will effectively end in Iraq on August 31, 2010.

He further asserted that all our troops will be removed from Iraq by the end of 2011, and that we will engage with other nations in the region, including Iran and Syria.

Our instinct was to cry out that the war is over! Let an era of diplomacy instead of war-mongering begin!

Yet jubilation is a bit premature. Our troops there are in danger, and those left on the ground (50,000 or so) will still be in harm’s way even though they will be designated for support and training. So until the danger has passed and the Iraqis have taken responsibility for their own security, we will lose soldiers. The count of money and lives will continue to mount.

It is a powerful statement, however, and encourages us to believe that diplomacy and all alternatives to war will be a part of a new foreign policy regime. This is the sea change we were waiting for. Now we must all get behind President Obama to make sure all steps that need to be taken by Congress follow suit.

Finally, as the war winds down, we will see monetary savings. The cost of rebuilding Iraq will be ongoing, and it is a positive thing that the President has allowed for increased salary and benefits for veterans. What we do know for certain is that war is destructive, not constructive; and that troops and veterans deserve more than lip-service.