President
Obama just announced that he will send 450 more American service
members to Iraq. They will join the 3,000 troops already there, risking
their lives in a deepening crisis that has no U.S. military solution.
Luckily,
two Iraq War veterans in Congress are standing up to calls for even
more war. Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Takai (D-HI) are currently
organizing a sign-on letter against escalating the U.S. military
mission in Iraq.
Reps.
Gallego and Takai know about Iraq because they fought there themselves.
They understand the hard truth that American troops will not bring
peace to Iraq nor heal the bitter sectarian divides fueling the
conflict. They understand that if the Iraqi military won't fight - as it
has repeatedly failed to do when ISIS has advanced - we cannot fight
this war for them.
As
Reps. Gallego and Takai say in their letter:
"While the Iraqi
military and the Iraqi people deserve our support in this struggle, an
enduring victory over ISIS will only be possible if they demonstrate a
real and lasting commitment to defeat our mutual foe. If we fight in
their stead, our success will be temporary and our gains will be
fragile."
Unfortunately,
hawks in Congress and on the campaign trail are calling for a massive
escalation in U.S. troops being sent to Iraq. Sen. Lindsey Graham
(R-SC), who is also running for President, has called for 10,000 troops
to be sent back to Iraq. Others have called for even more. These
dangerous calls for more war are gaining ground in Washington.
It
is time to admit that the solutions to Iraq’s instability will not be
found through bombs or boots on the ground. Failing to do so will put
yet more Americans at risk while pouring fuel on a fire that the U.S.
military cannot put out.
Humbly for Peace,
Kevin Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action
Executive Director
Peace Action
