Precedents, Variables, and Options in Planning a U.S. Military Disengagement Strategy from Iraq

Abstract

Having invaded Iraq and deposed a tyrannical dictator in early 2003, the United States assumed some important commitments to the Iraqi population, who were left without a government or viable security forces following the destruction of Saddam Hussein's regime. The U.S. administration has defined a central part of its approach to the situation as "leaving Iraq better than we found it." In its maximalist form, this statement calls for empowering a decent and accountable government and providing strong indigenous security forces to defend the country and maintain internal security. At a minimum, leaving Iraq better than we found it requires a stable government and the continued national unity of Iraq (rather than its separation into smaller warring territories), as well as the avoidance of civil war.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA438695

Entities

People

  • Conrad C. Crane
  • W. A. Terrill

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Rights
  • Civil War
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Governments
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Minority Groups
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Treaties

Readers

  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies