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By JOHN McCAIN
IRAQ is today in the throes of
another critical moment in its post-Saddam history.
There is both great hope and great difficulty, with a
new constitution and an ongoing insurgency, with
parliamentary elections in a month and violence plaguing
many areas.
At home, the American people wish to see us succeed
in helping bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi
people, but express increased uncertainty among the way
forward. Now is the last time we should send a message
that withdrawing troops is more important than achieving
success.
Unfortunately, the Senate considered two amendments
this week — one of which was approved with 79 votes —
that did just that. In the version that passed, 2006 is
designated as "a period of significant transition to
full sovereignty . . . thereby creating the conditions
for the phased redeployment of United States forces from
Iraq."
These words are likely to be examined closely in
Iraq, by both friends and enemies. They suggest that the
Senate has its priorities upside down, and I voted to
reject them.
Anyone reading the amendment gets the sense that the
Senate's foremost objective is the draw-down of American
troops. What it should have said is that America's first
goal in Iraq is not to withdraw troops, but to win the
war. All other policy decisions we make should support,
and be subordinate to, the successful completion of our
mission.
If that means we can draw down our troop levels and
win in Iraq in 2006, that would be a wonderful outcome.
But if success requires an increase in American troop
levels in 2006, then we must increase our numbers there.
Morality, national security and the honor our fallen
deserve all compel us to see our mission in Iraq through
to victory.
But the amendment suggests a different priority. It
signals that withdrawal, not victory, is foremost in
Congress' mind, and suggests that we are more interested
in exit than victory.
A date is not an exit strategy. To suggest that it is
only encourages our enemies, by indicating that the end
to American intervention is near. It alienates our
friends, who fear an insurgent victory, and tempts
undecideds to join the anti-government ranks.
And it suggests to the American people that, no
matter what, 2006 is the date for withdrawal. As much as
I hope 2006 is the landmark year that the amendment's
supporters envision, should it not be so, messages like
these will have unrealistically raised expectations once
again. That can only cost domestic support for America's
role in this conflict, a war we must win.
The sponsors may disagree with my interpretation of
their words, saying that 2006 is merely a target, that
their legislation is not binding and that it included
caveats. But look at the initial response to the
Senate's words: a front page Washington Post story
titled "Senate Presses for Concrete Steps Toward
Drawdown of Troops in Iraq."
Think about this for a moment. Imagine Iraqis,
working for the new government, considering whether to
join the police force, or debating whether or not to
take up arms. What will they think when they read that
the Senate is pressing for steps toward draw-down?
Are they more or less likely to side with a
government whose No. 1 partner hints at leaving?
The Senate has responded to the millions who braved
bombs and threats to vote, who put their faith and trust
in America and their government, by suggesting that our
No. 1 priority is to bring our people home.
We have told insurgents that their violence does
grind us down, that their horrific acts might be
successful. But these are precisely the wrong messages.
Our exit strategy in Iraq is not the withdrawal of our
troops, it is victory.
Americans may not have been of one mind when it came
to the decision to topple Saddam Hussein. But, though
some disagreed, I believe that nearly all now wish us to
prevail.
Because the stakes there are so high — higher even
than those in Vietnam — our friends and our enemies need
to hear one message: America is committed to success,
and we will win this war.
Sen. McCain (R, Az.) is one of only 19 U.S.
senators — including just 13 Republicans — to have voted
against a Senate resolution Tuesday pushing for an
eventual draw-down of U.S. troops from Iraq. |
