Iraq

The war in Iraq has caused great harm to a large number of ordinary Iraqis, Americans, and others. Having considered carefully the responsibility that comes with power, and desiring to fulfill their duties honorably, U.S. leaders must firmly resolve to commit the time and resources needed to heal the wounds of war.

Seizing this opportunity is not only the right thing to do—it is also in the strategic interest of the United States. By making a robust and long-term commitment to the well-being of the ordinary people who have suffered because of this conflict, the U.S. will win back social capital worldwide, create regional stability, and greatly reduce the threat of terrorism.

• The United States must continue the withdrawal of all troops, bases, and operations in a manner that best supports peace and recovery in Iraq. But withdrawal alone is not enough.
• The U.S. must help Iraqi society heal and gather momentum toward the same safety and prosperity it desires for itself. If requested and directed by Iraqis, the U.S. must offer its resources in a way that safeguards Iraqi values and choices as they respond to the formidable challenges facing their country. This goal alone should determine U.S. policy in Iraq for the next two decades. “Success” of Iraqi society in this way holds strategic value for the U.S.
• Iraqis who leave their homes because of violence or chronic instability in Iraq do so at a tremendous emotional and material cost. U.S. immigration policy should be expanded to accommodate a much larger number of uprooted Iraqi families if they choose to re-locate, and the U.S. should provide considerable legal, education, employment, and health care assistance. The U.S. must also lead the way in generating constructive cooperation and political will among American, Iraqi, Jordanian, Syrian, and other state leaders to implement effective solutions to the needs of Iraqi refugees and host communities in the region.
• The U.S. should coordinate a multi-national plan to help Iraq get on its feet economically by establishing trade policies favorable to Iraq’s vulnerable economy. It should also work together with responsible Iraqi leaders to strengthen an economic system in Iraq that is seen as profitable for people of all ethnic and religious identities. Nothing will bolster social stability better than shared prosperity, and this stability will have a ripple effect in the region.
• Creating a sense of justice is a powerful bridge-building agent in political relationships and an effective remedy for the grievances that lead to violence. There are ways U.S. leaders can create a greater sense of justice for victims of the war without making people who supported the war feel alienated or politically targeted. Examples include careful public statements, accountability for wrongful damages, and respecting the rule of international law. Moving in this direction will take away the rationale militant groups use to justify terrorism.