U.S. troop withdrawal
While celebrations were subdued -- confined primarily to public officials, dignitaries and media -- Iraq marked a new national holiday today. National Sovereignty Day was declared to commemorate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from cities throughout the country that has been ravaged by violence since 2003.
June 30 will be remembered as a historical occasion for Iraq, provided its security forces actually are prepared to protect this Middle East nation and its peoples.
The date should be celebrated by Americans as well, for it is an important step in the planned withdrawal of all combat forces from Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010, and the removal of all U.S. forces by Dec. 31, 2011. As a candidate for president, Barack Obama pledged such a withdrawal. As commander-in-chief, Obama is making it happen.
As the past cannot be undone, all we can express at this point is pleasure the withdrawal has begun. We cannot bring back the more than 4,300 U.S. military who've already given the ultimate sacrifice -- their lives -- while attempting to bring peace and stability to a nation-state we invaded in the first place. But we can prevent another 4,300 deaths simply by removing them from harm's way.
The tens of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed in the process likely will grow higher in the coming months and years. Iraq has not resolved the conundrum of long-standing rival Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Current political alliances likely will unravel as the country works to establish a peaceful and independent country. Vast oil reserves and centuries of factious violence alone are enough to ensure many a battle for power remains.
But Monday's official withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq's cities keeps the timeline intact for the country to solve its own problems. No American solution will do in this situation. The answers must come from Baghdad -- and acceptance must be found amongst the people who call Iraq home. And the millions of refugees who used to call Iraq home.
"While certainly there will be challenges -- there are many difficult political issues, social issues, governmental development issues -- we feel confident in the Iraqi security forces continuing the process of taking over the security tasks in their own country," said Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said "those who think that Iraqis are not able to protect their country and that the withdrawal of foreign forces will create a security vacuum are committing a big mistake."
Time will tell if the Iraqi army of more than 650,000 will be able to carry out its mission. Time will tell if the more than 130,000 U.S. troops now stationed in rural Iraq will need to return to troubled urban centers.
But it is about time the United States began an orderly withdrawal from the region. With the beginning of what many hawks used to refer to as "cut and run," our troops on the ground can begin to plan for their return to America.
That is worth celebrating. Happy National Sovereignty Day.
Editorial by Patrick Lowry