Home
Refresh   Tag(s): ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (more...)  (less...)
Add to My Group
February 25, 2009 at 05:00:00

Must Read 1   Well Said 1   Valuable 1   View Ratings | Rate It

Promoted to Headline (H3) on 2/25/09:

A Modest Proposal - An Iraqi Vote on Troop Withdrawal

submit to twitter
submit to reddit
submit to digg

Tell A Friend

By Michael Collins (about the author)     Page 1 of 2 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Michael Collins - Writer

A Modest Proposal

An Iraqi Vote on Troop Withdrawal

By Michael Collins

Over the years, we've seen various "exit strategies" proposed for withdrawal from Iraq.  The best proposal was made by a Baghdad man on his way to a demonstration just a few days after that city fell.  A  U.S. reporter asked what should happen now.  The man turned to the reporter and said, "Thank you for getting rid of Saddam.  Now please leave our country."

That advice was probably the best input that United States policy makers ever received (if they even noticed).   It was freely offered and no one died in the process.

Why not give democracy a chance?

The Iraqis have a right to a direct vote on the options for U.S. troop withdrawal.

The ballot would be simple.

Should U.S. troops leave Iraq?   Yes   No

If you answered Yes, how soon should they leave?

Immediately __    6 months __   12 months__    18 months__

Iraqis have wanted the U.S. out of their country almost from day one.  Various surveys show that a solid majority of citizens want coalition troops to leave within a year.  In 2004, 86% of Iraqis wanted U.S. troops out - 41% immediately and 46% after a new government was established.  At the start of 2006, 94% of all Iraqis supported their government setting a timeline for U.S. withdrawal from immediate departure to a timed departure over two years.   A few months later, even a poll by the U.S. Department of State showed nearly 70% of citizens wanted U.S. occupation to end.

Polls in 2007 and 2008 conducted by a variety of organizations demonstrate that a majority of Iraqis want foreign troops to leave.

Here's why they're upset.  Over a million Iraqis have died in sectarian and other forms of violence kicked off by the U.S. invasion.  For the most part, this has been Iraqis killing other Iraqis, an outcome of the extensive civil strife that was predicted before the invasion.

In addition, the quality of life in Iraq is dreadful and the citizens do notice.   Since 2007, large segments of the population describe a "declining quality/availability of (the) electricity supply, water, fuel, education, local government and medical care."  Harm to an immediate family member was reported by 17% of Iraqis.

Next Page  1  |  2

 

Michael Collins is a writer in the DC area who researches and comments on the corruptions of the new millennium. His articles focus on the financial manipulations of The Money Party, the abuse of power by government, and features on elections and (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

 

Book Recommendations for "Citizens Democracy Empire"
From Subject to Citizen
by Sudhir Hazareesingh

$26.95

Number of pages: 393
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Term limits for New York State: Expanding democracy through a citizen legislature
by John H Fund


Number of pages: 19
Publisher: Empire Foundation for Political Research

View All Book Recommendations

Share this page: (what's this?)                   Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

FACEBOOK      DIGG THIS      Add This Page to Mr Wong!           NEWSVINE      DEl.ICIO.US      Looksmart Furl      NETSCAPE      My Web      Tag!RawSugar      Blink List     (More...)

Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
3 comments
To view all comments:
Expand Comments
 

We also have our own realities to deal with by John Toradze on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 at 11:02:09 AM
Common sense, decency, democracy by Michael Collins on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 at 2:08:41 PM
You are the exception, Michael by Elizabeth Molchany on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 at 4:31:05 PM

 
Want to post your own comment on this Article? Post Comment


 

 

 

Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

Copyright © 2002-2009, OpEdNews

Powered by Populum