The Case

The United States is mired in an occupation of Iraq that is worsening the global terrorist threat and damaging our ability to respond to other security concerns. To promote real security we must change the conservatives’ counterproductive course in the Middle East and refocus on pressing global threats.

As a result of the Iraq debacle, the U.S. has and continues to ignore other security concerns: the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, catastrophic climate change and global pandemics. The United States needs a new approach to national security.

Everything the Bush administration told us about the war in Iraq turned out to be wrong. They assumed that military power was the answer and scorned the alliances, intelligence cooperation, political diplomatic initiatives and economic assistance vital to stopping terrorists and isolating them from the larger circles of Muslims.

Progressives champion an America that leads collective efforts rather than going it alone. We need to return to the fundamental belief that military force is a last, not a first resort. We need to return to building alliances and investing in international law and institutions. In short, we need to change course.

Real national security depends on protecting our interests, advancing our goals and values and prudent, realistic engagement with the threats we face. We need to talk about the Iraq War in terms of our future security: why getting out of Iraq bolsters our security and why staying weakens it.