Leaving Iraq
Re “Iraqi prime minister demands a firm U.S. withdrawal date,” Aug. 26
Now that the Iraqis have demanded that all U.S. troops be withdrawn by the end of 2011, the true intentions of Americans will be revealed.
Will we respect the full sovereignty of Iraq? Or will we continue to impose an occupation on that country? Washington’s insistence that any withdrawal be tied to “conditions on the ground” is simply a cover for our imperialistic designs on that country’s single most important resource -- oil. It is an attempt to delay our withdrawal until the American presence becomes an unalterable and accepted fact of life on the ground. But this is a delusion that can only lead to endless conflict for the people of Iraq.
If we claim to respect freedom, self-determination and the sovereignty of other nations, now is the time to show it by our actions.
Chris Apostal
Silver Lake
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