U.S. Institute of Peace calls for total withdrawal by 2013
'U.S. faces too many challenges around the world'
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has been urged to cut the U.S.
military presence in Iraq by half over the next three years.
The U.S. Institute of Peace, in a report drafted by leading analysts,
said Washington should reduce its military presence in Iraq by 50 percent by
2011, Middle East Newsline reported. The report said a total withdrawal should take place before 2013.
"The United States faces too many challenges around the world to
continue its current level of effort in Iraq, or even the deployment that
was in place before the surge," the report, released on Sept. 9, said. "It
is time to chart a clearer path forward."
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In 2006, the U.S. Institute of Peace, funded by Congress, operated the
Iraq Study Group, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former
Rep. Lee Hamilton. Many ISG advisers, who in December 2006 called for a
rapid U.S.
withdrawal from Iraq and reconciliation with Iran and Syria, participated in
the latest study, entitled "Iraq: A Time for Change."
The report, authored by institute vice president Daniel Serwer,
envisioned a role for the United Nations in achieving political
reconciliation in Iraq. The institute urged the adoption of the Bosnian
model and recommended that the UN press rival Iraqi political factions to
agree to share power, oil resources and conduct local elections.
"The situation remains fluid, but a window has opened, fleetingly, for
Iraq to proceed with political reconciliation," the report said. "Iraq's
national politicians have been unable to take full advantage of this
opportunity."
The report called on the U.S. military to prevent Iranian domination of
Iraq. At the same time, in a reflection of ISG's recommendations, the
institute urged the administration to grant Iran influence in Iraq.
"As long as the U.S. and Iran engage in a zero sum context for
influence, Iraq will remain in turmoil and the U.S. will be bogged down,"
the report said.
