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Evacuating Troops from Iraq

Page history last edited by Richard Parsons 15 years, 3 months ago

New Thesis

 

There are many issues that the United States is in the process of dealing with right now at this very moment. One of the major broad issues is Iraq. Eventually in 2011 the American troops will be removed from the dangerous Middle East country. Many people feel that this agreement between Iraq and the United States is a logical solution to the war. However the majority of Iraq, the Shiites is against this act because it still keeps Americans associated with their nation. In response to the agreement many Shiites have made protests and more fatal tension has been building between them and their minority rival group the Sunnis. The Sunnis want the U.S. Troops to stay because they were always the dominant power in Iraq that was backed by the former dictator Saddam Hussein (Sunni) who brought viscous punishments to Shiites. With the troops gone the Shiites will take full revenge on the Sunnis.  With that being said this agreement could lead to more bloodshed, with not only the religious groups in Iraq but also bordering countries like Iran who follow the Shiite religion may come claiming land and oil. In addition to Iran being Shiite they may take revenge with the Iraqi Shiites to the Sunnis regardless of having trouble gaining Iraq’s natural resources or not. These facts show that leaving Iraq could be fatal to many people, which is something the American government should take into account before this agreement is actually under action.   

 

 

Richard Parsons

Professor Jamieson

English- Paper # 6

12/1/08

 

 

                There are many issues that the United States is in the process of dealing with right now at this very moment. One of the major broad issues is Iraq. Eventually in 2011 the American troops will be removed from the dangerous Middle East country. Many people feel that this agreement between Iraq and the United States is a logical solution to the war. However the majority of Iraq, the Shiites is against this act because it still keeps Americans associated with Iraq. In response to the agreement many Shiites have made protests and more fatal tension has been building between them and their minority rival group the Sunnis.  The fact that this agreement could lead to more bloodshed, with not only the religious groups in Iraq but also invading countries claiming land and oil is something the American government should take into account before this agreement is actually under action.  

               

 

"Protests in Bagdad on U.S. Pact"

By: Stephen Farrell

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/world/middleeast/22iraq.html

November 21, 2008

 

Over 10, 000 Iraqis whom were mostly shiite supporters were protesting in Firdos Square about the security agreement with the U.S. The Prime minister of Iraq has signed has signed this pact which provides limits of power for American troops of Iraq, but at the same time grants America's soldiers to stay until 2011. The reason many shiites, who many of are part of a political party called Sadrists oppose this agreement is becasue they feel that the assurances of Americans to leave doesn't sound believable. The predicts the situation in Iraq is how other middle east countries were occupied by Western nations, which became colonies. However the minority group, the Sunnis don't want the Americans to go becasue they fear the Shiites will attack them and bring violence to them, also with the help of their fellow shiites from Iran. Overall the Shiites are more aggresive and seem more dangerous and the Suffis want peace.

 

-Richard Parsons

 

"Iraq Needs Security Pact for Order, Officials Say"

By: Campbell Robertson and Katherine Zoepf

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/world/middleeast/23iraq.html

November 22, 2008

 

The article explains how vital it is for American troops to stay and that the agreement should be passed according to Iraqi officials. Iraq's minister of defense, Abdul Qadir al-Obaidi, recovered by the authors was, "one of his worries was that American troops would no longer be able to defend the waters off Iraq's coast." As the minister of defence stated  himself, "If we get them out now in an unconsidered and sudden withdrawal, then what happened in the Gulf of Aden will happen to the Arabian Gulf too." Mr. Robertson and Ms. Zoepf explained that the coast could consider Pirate attacks from Samalia. Still the leader of the Shiites stated that the country should have a national consensus for this pact. People that are in this pact include United Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite bloc, and some of their Kurdish allies according to the authors. Regardless of how these high officials feel there are still many Shiites who disagree with this pact. However the officals still feel after 2011 some American troops should stay behind.

 

-Richard Parsons

 

"Iraq foes of Security Seek to Shield Assets"

By: James Glanz and Steven Lee Myers

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/world/middleeast/24iraq.html?pagewanted=1

November 23, 2008

 

Just recently Iraqi lawmakers have argued about the agreement becasue it does not protect the oil wealth of Iraq. Since the the guarentee of protection from the United Nations is about to expire which this agreement is supposed to replace, which thus worries Iraq's law makers. The reason for this situation is becasue these law makers feel Iraq's assets and revenue which is the oil won't be as well protected. Also the point that some Iraqis feel that if the agreement fails, American troops will have to stay even longer than intended. In response to criticism two anonymous, American Senior officials that the authors obtained stated, "It is the highest level of assurance in a bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq that they're ever going to get." which was stated by one of the officials." Furthermore in the near future, Mr. Obama has always wanted to evacuate from Iraq, however Mr. Glanz and Mr. Myers stated that his protections for Iraq have not been made clear.

 

-Richard Parsons

 

"Thanks but you can go now"

By: Ahmad Chalabi

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/opinion/23chalabi.html

November 22, 2008

 

This article is not just an ordinary article but an opinion article as well. The author feels the U.S. military is not the answer to help Iraq. According to Ahmad Chalabi the military has brought nothing but damage. Instead what Iraq needs is to increase trade with the U.S., increase the world supply of oil, and raise the education over there. All this is what the author think Barack Obama should and will do when he becomes President. The author also sees Mr. Obama as a leader in a new direction. Then states at the end, "Iraq stands ready".

 

"A Loosely Drawn American Victory"

By: Steven Lee Myers

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/washington/29policy.html?_r=1

November 28, 2008

 

This article explains more about the evacuation of troops from Iraq. Stating facts about how the agreements lead to a withdrawal of troops, but this issue is easier said than done, which will lead to large amounts of time for this with drawal to actually take place. This agreement makes American troops with draq in about three years. However extending the stay of troops still remains in question. Mr. Myers also reported that these agreements have been a victory for President Bush becasue of the help from his administration. "The reason the agreements are a victory for Mr. Bush is that his administration has effectively negotiated an end to a costly and widely unpopular war that was begun in 2003 with a rationale-eliminating Iraq's uncoventional weapons -that has since been discredited." Mr. Obama who is soon to be President agrees with the withdrawal. Now that President Bush is stepping down it is up Mr. Obama to make things go smoothly in Iraq.

 

-Richard Parsons

 

"Bomber Kills 12 at Shiite Mosque Before March Against A New Security Pact"

By: Alissa J. Rubin

New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html

November 28, 2008

 

Ms. Rubin reports a suicide bombing at a Shiite Mosque whom are against the security. pact. This tragedy took place in Bagdad that killed 12 people and wounded 19. The town that this tragic event took place in is mainly dominated by Shiites but Sunni villages are located very close. It was said by an anonymous Iraqi soldier that the bomber made it past the check point where people are searched. Overall the Shiites are against the agreement pact, which is why they were bombed. Shiites mainly blame the United States for this problem. We will see in the near future with the evacuation of U.S. troops really does help Iraq in the long run.

 

-Richard Parsons

 

Comments (1)

sandra jamieson said

at 12:35 pm on Dec 2, 2008

Richard, this is a great start and you make a very important point. I think, though, that you need to go a little further. I think you are saying that the US needs to consider the resistance of the Shiites to a continued American presence and also the concerns of the Suni minority who want American protection. If not, you suggest, there may be more violence and instability in the region and may have an impact on oil production. So I think your thesis needs to focus on the fact that this is a complicated and volatile region and that a simplistic solution that ignores the tension between Shiites and Sunis (and Kurds) is unlikely to be effective. Then you can explain why. You may need a litle history here. I'd suggest looking at old NYT stories about the Shiites and the Sunis rather than wikipedia or a random website as there are so many politics and ideological positions involved, making bias likely.

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