Regionally, the U.S. considers Iraq vital to its interests in the Middle East. Iraq is strategically positioned in the center of Middle East between Iran and Syria, and next to U.S. partners like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Taking advantage of a Shiite majority parliament, Iran has demonstrated a considerable amount of influence in Iraq as seen through the recent agreement for an Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline project.[iv] In September 2012, Senator John Kerry threatened to restrict U.S. aid to Iraq because it allowed Iran to use its airspace to supply the Syrian regime. The U.S. will continue to contend with Iran in the battle for soft power in Iraq, but U.S Ambassador to Iraq Beecroft suggests that Iran’s favor may wane in the face of renewed Iraqi nationalism.[v] The Kurdish presence the north also is essential for U.S. diplomats to mitigate since a Kurdish state would destabilize Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The Kurds also offer an opportunity for the U.S. to cultivate a partner against the Assad regime since their territory offers easy access into the Syria.[vi]
Internationally, the U.S. sees Iraq as a partner in the democratic club of nations and partner in the war on terrorism, but also recognizes that a sovereign Iraq is at odds with the U.S. on matters of human rights and Israel. The U.S. works closely with Iraqi Security forces to pursue and disrupt Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other militant groups in the Middle East. The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq is involved in the training of Iraqi defense forces and the Anti-Terrorism Assistance program trains Iraqi counterterrorism forces.[vii] Iraq has historically been a major player in the Arab world and took a significant step in hosting an Arab League summit in March 2012, which may be emblematic of an enhanced role in international stability. In human rights, the U.S. has sought to help Iraq improve the poor conditions of prison facilities and criticized its use of coercive force on Arab Spring protesters. For a soft power approach in human rights, the U.S. has largely relied on NGOs to carry out investigations and create reports on human rights abuses by the Iraqi government. In international institutions, Iraq has worked with U.N. to ensure the protection of Iranian exiles and accept international accords, largely in U.S. interests.[viii] Whether Iraq can maintain an authoritative presence internationally will depend on its ability to provide stability and legitimacy through its partnership with the U.S., provided that U.S. continues to be interested in their partnership.
When the U.S. withdrew its military presence from Iraq, U.S. media also began a steady drawdown. It began on news networks as early as 2008 when Armando Acuna, public editor of the Sacramento Bee noted that, “During the first 10 weeks of 2007, Iraq accounted for 23 percent of the news for network TV news. In 2008, it plummeted to 3 percent…”[ix] A casual survey of the New York Times reveals a similar trend in the frequency of stories after 2009. This drawdown is problematic for many reasons but one in particular will be considered here. If anything is clear from the partnership between the U.S. and Iraq outlined above, it is that the legacy of the Iraq War remains undefined. The Iraq War is used as a cautionary parable by anti-intervention advocates and lamented as a failure by international observers, but these perspectives fail to recognize that Iraq’s future is still in motion. Iraq has the largest U.S. diplomatic presence in the world with about 14,000 contractors. This presence continues to work with Iraq to overcome local, regional, and international interests and challenges.
In The Peloponnesian War, Thucydides gives us a demonstration of that ancient Greek principle of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Perceptions of enmity and mistrust led to a realized conflict between Sparta and Athens. Thus, it may be appropriate to fear that our deeming Iraq an unqualified failure, may convince young Americans that this is, in fact, true. Our perceptions of failure could simply lead the U.S. to abandon Iraq as a lost cause. Instead of succumbing to perception, Americans should focus on the facts on the ground. Iraq lives precariously and like any good partnership, be it marriage or strategic pact, its flourishing will require the continued toil and sweat of its partners.
[i] Thom Shanker, Michael S. Schmidt, Robert F. Worth. “In Baghdad, Panetta Leads Uneasy Moment of Closure” The New York Times. September 15, 2011. March 9, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/middleeast/panetta-in-baghdad-for-iraq-military-handover-ceremony.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&_r=0
[ii] Omar Al-Jawoshy, Michael Schwirtz. “Iraq’s Vice President Calls Death Sentence ‘Unjust’.” The New York Times. September 10, 2012. March 9, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/world/middleeast/top-iraqi-leader-denounces-death-sentence.html?pagewanted=all
[iii] Tim Arango and Duraid Adnan. “For Iraq, the Year Ends the Way It Began, With Guns Drawn.” The New York Times.December 3, 2012. March 9, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/world/middleeast/iraqs-latest-crisis-is-a-standoff-with-northern-kurds.html
[iv] “Official: Iran-Iraq-Syria Gas Pipeline Project Finalized” Fars News Agency. February 20, 2013. March 2, 2013.http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107146286
[v] “Statement by Robert Stephen Beecroft” United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. September 19, 2012. March 9, 2013. http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-09-18-2012
[vi] Associated Press “A decade after US-led invasion, Kurds look to Turkey, the West, mull future without Iraq.” The New York Times. March 7, 2013. March 8, 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/a-decade-after-us-led-invasion-kurds-look-to-turkey-the-west-mull-future-without-iraq/2013/03/07/587d955e-875c-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html
[vii] “Statement by Robert Stephen Beecroft” United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. September 19, 2012. March 9, 2013. http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-09-18-2012
[viii] Antonio Guterres. “UN officials urge protection, durable solution for residents of Iranian exile camp in Iraq” UN New Centre. March 1, 2013. March 7, 2013.
[ix] Sherry Ricchiardi. “Whatever Happened to Iraq?” American Journalism Review. June/July 2008. March 7, 2012.http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=4515
Image Credit:http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/1021/Iraq-withdrawal-With-US-troops-set-to-exit-9-year-war-draws-to-close
