Michael’s Position on the War in Iraq

I am proud to be running for Congress in New York’s 13th Congressional District, home to hundreds of patriotic Americans currently serving their country in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, and to over 30,000 military veterans. As a life-long public servant, I deeply honor the service of our men and women in uniform. They have made great personal sacrifices on behalf of our country, and deserve the respect and admiration of every American. They have done everything that we have asked of them, and much more. In recent history debates have raged over whether our actions in war were a mistake. History will tell us. But, it is never a mistake for an American to put on the uniform of our armed forces. Rather, it is an act of heroism and selfless service which we must honor above all else.

At this time, it has become clear that the best way to support our troops is to remove them from harm’s way by beginning their responsible withdrawal from Iraq. Over 4,000 U.S. troops have been killed, and over 30,000 have been wounded. It has been almost five and a half years since we invaded Iraq, longer than our engagement in either World War I or World War II. Our soldiers have done what we have asked them and we should extend their mission no longer. The total costs of the war hover at over $3 trillion dollars, already costing more than our 12-year war in Vietnam, and more than twice as much as the Korean War. Currently, 40 percent of all Army and Marine Corps equipment is either deployed in Iraq or under repair. Over 400,000 troops have served multiple tours in Iraq, dramatically increasing their chances of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Because of the costs to our military, we’ve had to outsource much of its work by hiring companies like Blackwater. In Iraq, we are currently employing hundreds of thousands of private contractors, who they are not being held accountable to any law, be it American or Iraqi. Many military officials believe that these strains call in to question our ability to respond to crises we may face in the future. These costs are both unsustainable and unacceptable.

There is no further military solution to the situation in Iraq. Its problems are now political, and they require diplomatic solutions. When George Bush announced “The Surge” in January, 2007, its goal was not to reduce violence, but to enhance the stability and legitimacy of the Iraqi government. We were told that when the level of violence went down, “Iraqis [would] regain confidence in their leaders, and the government [would] have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas,” yet this hasn’t happened. While violence is down, Iraqi leaders have shown no signs of progress in resolving their civil war and unifying their country. A single American life is too great a price to pay for total failure on behalf of Iraq’s government; we cannot continue to police their civil war.

Our Constitution provides Congress with the power to fund wars, and with the right to make laws regarding the use of military force. If elected, I will use this authority to end our misguided policies in Iraq. Our policy must follow three principles:

1. We must immediately begin to remove our combat troops from Iraq, but this must be done gradually and cautiously. We cannot allow chaos to break out and endanger our troops as we draw down their numbers. Furthermore, non-combat troops must be allowed to continue their current work in Iraq, including protecting our embassy and diplomats, and training the Iraqi military. We must also be prepared to carry out targeted strikes on any terrorist camps, should they form in Iraq once our combat troops have left.

2. We must be clear that it is not the policy of United States to build and maintain permanent military bases in Iraq. Any attempt to establish a permanent military presence in Iraq will disrupt efforts to create a stable, sovereign Iraqi government. It would undermine trust in our government by increasing the suspicion of American motives, both in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

3. We must pressure the Iraqi government to take responsibility for their own country. As we redeploy our troops, we must expand our diplomatic outreach to Iraq’s neighbors, all of whom have an interest in creating a stable Iraq. These countries, as well as the United Nations, must play a larger role in establishing and supporting a functioning Iraqi government than they have under the failed diplomacy of the Bush administration.

If elected, I will be a strong advocate for responsible efforts to end the war in Iraq, and I will push to make sure that Congress does not grant more war funding without also ensuring that plans for our withdrawal are being designed and enacted. We must thank our soldiers for their service by bringing them home safely, responsibly, and as soon as possible.