Steve Kagen Column: Enough is Enough: 'Iraq is Already Gone'

Statement

Today our nation is no closer to an end to our occupation of Iraq, and we still have no clear exit strategy to our costly involvement in their religious civil war. Gen. David Petraeus has testified before Congress and I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude for his candid remarks and patriotic service. His testimony was truthful and revealing.

But General Petraeus' appearance confirmed what Americans already knew: President Bush's war and his losing policy of "stay the course" have created more terrorists and made our homeland less secure.

And in spite of the courageous efforts of our troops, things in Iraq have not changed after the surge. There is still no political end in sight.

Petraeus has asked the American people to stay the course, asking our brave servicemen and women for more of their time, and for us to believe, as do President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The general's report mirrors President Bush's plan to stay in Iraq - with no real change in policy.

The general's report highlighted three facts about the Iraqi quagmire.

First, Iraq is President Bush's war, and he is the only person today who can end it. There are simply not enough votes in the Senate to overcome his presidential veto of legislation designed to bring our involvement in Iraq to an end.

Second, and most importantly, the tribal peoples of Iraq do not want to live together. The minority Sunni Arabs, the Kurds in the north, and the Shiite majority do not share a common vision of national unity or a central government - period - as reflected in their centuries-old sectarian violence and the unending slaughter of innocent civilians.

And third, Iraq is already gone. Iraq has gone the way of the former Yugoslavia - and it is not coming back.

Is it possible to force people over there to embrace democracy? No one, not even our talented troops can do something that is impossible. The desire for democracy must come from within, not without.

Is our own homeland more secure today following our invasion of Iraq? The chairmen of the 9/11 Commission revealed we are less secure. President Bush's war has failed to secure our safety.

Where do we go from here? We cannot afford to sustain our presence in Iraq and still be prepared to confront future unexpected threats within the region and around the world. That's not my opinion - it is the opinion of Adm. William Fallon, Petraeus' superior officer who oversees Middle East operations.

And what is our role in the region once known as Iraq? We have an interest in promoting peace and stability within the region, but there will be no stability for the Iraqi people while our troops patrol their streets. Immediately following redeployment of our forces, we will be in a stronger position to broker a political settlement, and win the fight against terrorism everywhere in the world.

We do not belong in the middle of the Iraqi civil war. Our brave troops have performed professionally and with incredible skill in defeating Saddam, many thousands sacrificing everything. We've done our job.

Enough is enough.

Six years after the tragedy of 9/11, it is time to use better judgment and to build a more hopeful and secure future for all of us.

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