You can clearly tell exactly when upstate Democratic Congressman Mike Arcuri became frustrated. Just back from a 23-hour whirlwind tour of Iraq, the freshman congressman recounts a story of his meeting with Salam al-Zuwba’i, deputy prime minister of Iraq. Arcuri asked al-Zawba’i to tell him exactly how he should convince his constituents that American troops should stay in Iraq.
“The problem was, he didn’t answer the question,” said Arcuri, noting that al-Zawba’i instead spoke of the numerous other issues and the sectarian strife that faces his country. “My concern there is that if he doesn’t know why we need to stay, I’m very concerned that our troops don’t know the reason why we need to stay, and I think that’s a real problem, in terms of identifying what our mission is. I think that’s been the problem all along.”
Later this month, General David Petraeus, commander of the multi-national force in Iraq, will report to Congress on the status of the surge and likely attempt to make the case that he needs more troops—or at least the same number of troops—for continued success in Iraq. But Arcuri said that the real problem with the surge is its lack of focus. Rather than a way for America to beat back the insurgency, the surge, Arcuri believes, should be a way for America to provide the Iraqis with enough time and support to stand on their own feet.
“The purpose of the surge was to give the [Iraqi] government breathing space, basically to get the violence down and give the government time to come together and negotiate,” said Arcuri. “We’ve done that. Yet, what have they done, they’ve squandered that time.” Arcuri added that while the different factions of Iraqi leadership bicker over leadership roles, American and Iraqi lives are being lost.
“They expect us to stay there, they want to continue to use us as a crutch,” he said, “and frankly, until they realize that they need to stand up for themselves, that problem is not going to get any better.”
However opposed to the war in Iraq he is, and no matter how much he desires to bring American troops home, Arcuri will not parrot those who demand America’s troops be brought home immediately.
“I certainly don’t advocate a full withdrawal of all of our troops. Obviously, there has to be a gradual withdrawal,” said Arcuri.
He praised the troops for doing a great job in a hostile environment, adding that he has an even greater respect for their work, having now seen it in person.
“I think [the soldiers] have achieved a bunch of what we sent them there to do, and the problem is not what our soldiers are doing, the problem is with the [Iraqi government]. And until the government realizes that we’re not their crutch, that they can’t rely upon us,” he said. “Until they realize that they’ll continue to have unrest, they’ll continue to have insurgency.”
Still, the congressman seems furious with the Iraqi government. The addition of new troops in Iraq through the surge puts more American lives in danger. He noted with particular disgust the recent walkout by Sunni ministers in the Iraqi parliament, a walkout that has largely paralyzed the government in advance of Petraeus’ September report. While American soldiers fight, the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds have the ability to drag their feet and posture. Political gamesmanship is OK, so long as someone else is carrying the heavy load of battle.
Arcuri’s solution is simple: It is time to force the Iraqis to move forward, and that requires Americans to move out. If they see their safety net quickly disappearing, perhaps the Iraqis will finally take responsibility for their own country. And as long as the United States maintains a huge, powerful force in Iraq, Arcuri thinks the Iraqi government will never find the right motivation to actually work.
“When they take their future into their own hands, only then will the job be complete,” said Arcuri. “And I think for that to happen we need to begin to withdraw our troops and let them know we are serious.”
He added, “We’re not just going to be there indefinitely.”
“The problem was, he didn’t answer the question,” said Arcuri, noting that al-Zawba’i instead spoke of the numerous other issues and the sectarian strife that faces his country. “My concern there is that if he doesn’t know why we need to stay, I’m very concerned that our troops don’t know the reason why we need to stay, and I think that’s a real problem, in terms of identifying what our mission is. I think that’s been the problem all along.”
Later this month, General David Petraeus, commander of the multi-national force in Iraq, will report to Congress on the status of the surge and likely attempt to make the case that he needs more troops—or at least the same number of troops—for continued success in Iraq. But Arcuri said that the real problem with the surge is its lack of focus. Rather than a way for America to beat back the insurgency, the surge, Arcuri believes, should be a way for America to provide the Iraqis with enough time and support to stand on their own feet.
“The purpose of the surge was to give the [Iraqi] government breathing space, basically to get the violence down and give the government time to come together and negotiate,” said Arcuri. “We’ve done that. Yet, what have they done, they’ve squandered that time.” Arcuri added that while the different factions of Iraqi leadership bicker over leadership roles, American and Iraqi lives are being lost.
“They expect us to stay there, they want to continue to use us as a crutch,” he said, “and frankly, until they realize that they need to stand up for themselves, that problem is not going to get any better.”
However opposed to the war in Iraq he is, and no matter how much he desires to bring American troops home, Arcuri will not parrot those who demand America’s troops be brought home immediately.
“I certainly don’t advocate a full withdrawal of all of our troops. Obviously, there has to be a gradual withdrawal,” said Arcuri.
He praised the troops for doing a great job in a hostile environment, adding that he has an even greater respect for their work, having now seen it in person.
“I think [the soldiers] have achieved a bunch of what we sent them there to do, and the problem is not what our soldiers are doing, the problem is with the [Iraqi government]. And until the government realizes that we’re not their crutch, that they can’t rely upon us,” he said. “Until they realize that they’ll continue to have unrest, they’ll continue to have insurgency.”
Still, the congressman seems furious with the Iraqi government. The addition of new troops in Iraq through the surge puts more American lives in danger. He noted with particular disgust the recent walkout by Sunni ministers in the Iraqi parliament, a walkout that has largely paralyzed the government in advance of Petraeus’ September report. While American soldiers fight, the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds have the ability to drag their feet and posture. Political gamesmanship is OK, so long as someone else is carrying the heavy load of battle.
Arcuri’s solution is simple: It is time to force the Iraqis to move forward, and that requires Americans to move out. If they see their safety net quickly disappearing, perhaps the Iraqis will finally take responsibility for their own country. And as long as the United States maintains a huge, powerful force in Iraq, Arcuri thinks the Iraqi government will never find the right motivation to actually work.
“When they take their future into their own hands, only then will the job be complete,” said Arcuri. “And I think for that to happen we need to begin to withdraw our troops and let them know we are serious.”
He added, “We’re not just going to be there indefinitely.”
