Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Analysis
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Tiptoeing Toward Iraq War III

July 21, 2014

Tiptoeing Toward Iraq War III

The House of Representatives could vote as early as this week on whether to authorize Iraq War III.

On July 11, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Walter Jones (R-NC) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced an unusual joint resolution, H. Con. Res. 105, under the procedures outlined by the War Powers Resolution that is expected to lead to a vote this week or next on whether to pull U.S. troops out. Congress should seize its traditional war-making powers to reject a new war in Iraq.

In 1990-91, Iraq War I, also called Operation Desert Storm or the Gulf War, produced a coalition of 34 nations led by the United States to reverse Saddam Hussein’s brutal invasion and annexation of Kuwait. Congress voted to authorize the use of force.

That war was a walk in the park compared to the invasion of Iraq by President George W. Bush in 2003 to depose Hussein and combat his never-found weapons of mass destruction. To the regret of many Members of Congress who at the time voted “yes,” Congress authorized that war in 2002. That war lasted nine years at the cost of 4,500 American lives and, according to one study, 500,000 Iraqi lives. Linda Bilmes, a Harvard expert in public finance, estimated that the total cost of the Iraq war will be $4 trillion

Now: Iraq War III? In June 2014, following military aggression by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama announced that 300 personnel would be sent to Iraq, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, augmented by Apache attack helicopters and drones. A few days later, he declared another 200 personnel were soon to be deployed. . Yet the Pentagon press secretary promises there is no mission creep.

However, as the United States knows from past, bitter experience in Vietnam, a small military engagement can escalate into a major military war that is disastrous for our national interest. There is little a few hundred or a few thousand troops can do in today’s Iraq that 140,000 could not do at the height of American involvement in Iraq War II.

This sad truth has not stopped calls for escalation from those who brought us that disaster. Recently, Michael O’Hanlon, one of the promoters of Iraq War II,  advocated sending  up to 10,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.”

Dick Cheney, one of the key architects of the 2003 war,  wants the U.S. to intervene again and blames President Obama for the disaster there.

The McGovern-Jones-Lee privileged resolution directs the President to remove U.S. troops from Iraq within 30 days, or if that is too quick, no later than the end of this year.

This resolution, which provides an exception for those troops needed to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel, requires the House to take up this bill after 15 calendar days.

Congress has the constitutional responsibility to debate the merits of renewed American military involvement in Iraq before the first American casualties occur. While the key vote may be on tabling or killing the McGovern-Jones-Lee resolution, rather than an actual vote on the measure, it will at least put Members of Congress on the record.

Posted in: Blog

Tweets by Livable World

Recent Posts

  • Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder March 15, 2023
  • House Elections: Democratic and Republican Target Seats March 13, 2023
  • An early look at the 2024 House elections March 7, 2023
  • An early glimpse at 2024 Senate elections February 21, 2023
  • Press the Button: The Clock is Ticking February 14, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy