As we ring in the new year, we must remember the 180,000 Americans still in harm’s way fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
No matter how divided our nation has been about the war in Iraq, I know all Coloradans are thankful for the service of our men and women in uniform. I am sure that every one of them would rather be home with their families and loved ones during the holidays. These dedicated Americans deserve our deepest appreciation for their sacrifice and our prayers for their safe return.
But we must do more. We need to view the year ahead as an opportunity for making changes that will enable our soldiers to return from Iraq and begin the process of turning over to the Iraqi people the political and military responsibility for their country.
Recent reports indicate that the escalation, popularly known as “the surge,” of American forces in Iraq under the direction of Gen. David Petraeus, has increased security in those neighborhoods and cities where American combat forces have been deployed. As one who opposed this escalation, I am heartened by reports that violence and civil strife are down. It’s another testament to the extraordinary bravery and determination of our troops.
Having more American troops patrolling Baghdad and other unstable areas in Iraq has meant a stronger security presence, but it has also deepened Iraqi dependence. And when President Bush announced the troop increase, he said sending more troops to Iraq would provide “breathing space” for the Iraqi government to move toward political reconciliation and settlement. That has yet to occur.
Let me be clear: that’s no fault of our troops. They have performed remarkably. But no amount of American sacrifice will make the Iraqi people come together and take responsibility for their future.
We need to turn our attention to the post-surge realities in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Even proponents of the surge acknowledge that our Army is not large enough to sustain current troop levels in Iraq. In the meantime, the security situation in Afghanistan has gotten worse. Additional forces are clearly needed to ensure that the Taliban and al-Qaeda elements do not regain the upper hand.
We must seize the opportunity of a more stable military situation in Iraq to insist that the Maliki government forge a political settlement between Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions. We need to make clear that American military support is not open-ended. And we must reach across regional borders to engage Iraq’s neighbors in diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing Iraq, opposing al-Qaeda, and lowering tensions in the Middle East.
In many ways, we face the same issues today that we faced earlier in the year. Despite the tactical success of the surge, we still have the strategic problem of extricating our forces from Iraq and pushing a reconciliation of factions that have fueled a civil war.
What we need is consensus here at home on a path forward in Iraq. For too long, Congress has let partisan politics get in the way of common ground. That’s not the leadership our troops need or the American people deserve.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I believe we can achieve consensus by implementing the bipartisan recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. This legislation, which I co-authored with a Democrat and two Republicans earlier this year, is now more critical than ever. The bill calls for increasing international economic development, a “surge” in diplomatic efforts and a careful, yet timely, phased withdrawal of American forces.
The greatest gift Congress can give our soldiers next year is the sure knowledge that a grateful nation will soon welcome them safely home.
U.S. Rep. Mark Udall represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District.
