Iraq is not a war

The war in Iraq is over. It was over with the declaration, “Mission Accomplished.” And, what was that mission? Neutralize the Iraqi military, remove Mr. Hussein, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction. All three were accomplished in a matter of weeks, even if it took a bit longer to verify that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

If the war ended years ago, why is the U.S. military still there? It can’t be to remove autocrats and create democracy in the Middle East, or we also would have invaded several other countries, including those of some “allies.” It can’t be to create democracy, as the U.S. rejected the results of a free election in Gaza, because we did not like the outcome. It is a cynical contradiction to support democracy in Iraq, autocracy among our allies, and simultaneously reject the exercise of democracy elsewhere.

One suspects the goal is to control Iraqi oil, especially since the U.S. has pressed to open ownership of the oil fields to foreign investors. And, most likely, the goal is to establish a base for long-term U.S. influence in the area. Why else construct such a large embassy, or several giant military air bases?

Are these legitimate aims? If Iraq no longer presents an imminent threat to the U.S., what is the basis under international law for our continued occupation of Iraq? What can justify the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens, or the creation of one or two million Iraqi refugees? What can justify the waste of 4,000 U.S. lives, tens of thousands of U.S. wounded, and a trillion dollars?

Whatever one thinks of the answers to these questions, it is long since time for us to change the rhetoric on Iraq. The war is long over. Iraq is no threat. It is time to speak of ending the occupation.