Would withdrawal from Iraq worsen relations between the Middle East and the United States?
Withdrawal from Iraq would greatly improve relations with the Middle East, because the U.S. would be seen as less of an imperialist nation.
The Middle East has a startlingly negative opinion of the United States. The U.S. is looked at as an imperialist power, using force to force unpopular and foreign on the native populations of the region. The occupation of Iraq is one part of that image, and withdrawal from Iraq will help to rectify it. If the United States withdraws from Iraq, it will acknowledge that Iraq is capable of choosing its own destiny, and managing its own affairs. The image of the imperialist U.S. in the Middle East will be weakened, and it won't be as effective of a terrorist recruiting tool. Withdrawal from Iraq will not sour U.S.-Middle East relations, but rather improve them.
Posted by: A BassLeaving the area completely now would show that we have lost interest in their country and their problems.
I do think that we need to have all of our troops home at some point, but we cannot entirely walk away from this situation just because it has not been going very well. I think it would show the people there who want their country to be better that we are not interested and I think that it would show other countries that if a fight is too hard we will walk away. I think it would be good to re-strategize and see if we can gradually withdraw troops, but if we could not do this without making a positive impact on the safety and happiness of the regular people in the Middle East, we will have went through all of this for nothing.
Posted by: lachercheuseThe United States greatest ally is Israel, and we are essentially there to protect them.
The United States can not withdraw from Iraq, because of Israel. The only reason Iraq is around is to try to eliminate Israel. We can not allow Iraqi people to continue to fight a holy war with the people of Israel. If the U.S. withdrew their troops, we would be leaving the Jews to defend themselves in an area that is of a Muslim majority. The U.S. has too much at stake to withdraw from Iraq.
Posted by: IntelligentLuis84The U.S. reputation was hurt by going into Iraq but, now that we are there, it will be hurt again if we leave and the region destabilizes into a civil war between the various factions and religious sects.
When the U.S. pulls out of Iraq and the region destabilizes or goes into civil war, we will be blamed for the atrocities that happen. We are stuck now, and need to continue on in Iraq in the non-combat and training role we have been doing and slowly pull out. The faster and more abrupt we leave Iraq with our current 42,000 troops, the more likely we will be blamed for anything that goes wrong.
Posted by: JazzyGarfield
The withdraw from Iraq would not worsen relations between the Middle East and the United States.
If the United states was to withdraw troops from Iraq and make diplomatic efforts to help the Iraqi government transition to the Iraqi form of democracy which they have created, the United states would be viewed in such a much better light than they are now. They would be viewed as peacemakers and nation builders instead of now being viewed as a occupying force and infidels by the rest of the middle eastern Arab world.
Posted by: AndreaSWithdrawing from Iraq would do nothing but IMPROVE our relations!
We are at war, obviously withdrawing from war would improve our relationship! We wouldn't be so.. imposing, to put it lightly. Of course we're not on the best of terms; thanks to America, people in Iraq are constantly fretting about whether or not one of their family members could die tonight.
Posted by: B BlanchardWithdrawal from Iraq would only help to bolster our image as liberators.
For Iraq to be able to call itself free, it must be able to rise or fall on it's own, with out US interference. If we truly are liberators, why don't we give them the freedom to rise or fall according to their own self determination. Iraqi's want a FREE IRAQ. The only way to have that is to leave. Once we leave, offering some financial assistance may be a good idea for some years, to help Iraqi's stand on their own two feet.
Posted by: StormGraWithdrawal would better relations between the United States and the Middle East, because it would be seen as a move towards peace.
The United States meddling with the affairs of the Middle East gets a very small amount of support. Even the citizens of the United States on a large scale do not support the occupation of Iraq, or even Afghanistan for that matter. The war has been going on for almost a decade, and it's time for U.S troops to come home. There's nothing left to do there.
Posted by: RayEarI do not believe that withdrawing from Iraq would worsen relation between our two countries.
The Iraqi people need to stand on their own now and learn how to deal with terrorism in their country. We have been sending troops there for much too long. We will guard our own country and the moment Osama Bin Laden is sighted we will be upon him like birds of prey.
Posted by: 4rlHelloWithdrawal from Iraq would let the Middle East know that the USA is not trying to control their resources.
The USA is oftentimes in the middle of battles for resources in the third world countries. Our foreign policy needs to improve and not be based on dominating and controlling other countries resources when our help is not wanted. We need to embrace the 21st century and provide help when it is asked, not by invading other countries for reasons that are false. We entered Iraq under false pretenses and we should get out. We can develop energy resources another way.
Posted by: DisillusionedGilberto67I do not think withdrawal from Iraq would worsen relations between the Middle East and the United States because most Middle Easterners would like the US to reduce or eliminate its military presence.
I do not think withdrawal from Iraq would worsen relations with the Middle East because I believe they would welcome the idea of having a reduced military presence from the United States. The damage was done when the United States entered Iraq. Those effects will be felt whether the United States stays in Iraq or not.
Posted by: InquisitiveMikeWithdrawal from Iraq may actually improve relations with the Middle East.
A reason for some of the tension is the occupation of Iraq by the United States. If the United States were to withdraw from Iraq, it might just help improve relations with the Middle East.
Posted by: AverageHoward86Withdrawal from Iraq would improve relations between the Middle East and the US due to a lowered military presence and perceived threat.
Many Middle Eastern countries take a negative view of the US government, rather than the entire country. A military withdrawal would be seen as the US leadership sending a message that they do not intend to be a threat to nearby Middle Eastern countries. However, while relations would likely improve, acts of violence would probably increase in Iraq were the military to withdraw.
Posted by: MundN34rIyThose most extreme in the Middle East want us out of there as soon as possible.
If we were to assist in stabilizing Iraq, and just get out, this may help
ease tensions a little. But, there will always be this hatred of the U.S. in the Middle East. If we could keep out of business there completely, then that
would lessen our troubles with them. But, often, circumstances make that
impossible. It's pretty much a lose-lose situation.Posted by: MarsBIueNo, a withdrawal from Iraq would not worsen relations between the Middle East and the United States because those that hate us could not hate us any more.
Most of the Middle East already hates the United States about as much as they can possibly hate another country, the US leaving Iraq could only improve matters. Some of the people free loading off the United States efforts, construction companies that are skimming off the top and such might dislike the end of a free ride, but they are scum any ways. A withdrawal from Iraq could only improve relations with the average citizen, only the rich and powerful who benefited from the occupation would care if the US left.
Posted by: H_BairdI don't see how it would
it may not significantly improve or relations but with us gone there's not much they could do to us.
Posted by: BennyWNo, if anything, it might make better U.S. and Middle Eastern relations, since the Muslims did not want U.S. occupying forces on their land in the first place.
If anything, withdrawal from Iraq might finally improve the U.S. relations with the Middle Eastern world somewhat. Many Arab Muslims are very proud of their culture, religion, and heritage, and look at Americans as occupying forces, which are disrespectful of their religious traditions and culture, and should not be there in the first place. If Americans finally leave Iraq alone, Iraqis might become more friendly toward the United States.
Posted by: P5ych0OgdanI don't think anyone wants us there.
No, withdrawing from Iraq will not harm our relationships in the Middle East. We went into Iraq uninvited and have overstayed our welcome. Our presence in the Middle East is not seen as a good thing except for by the Iraqi people who don't want to assume responsibility for their own country. And why should they, as long as we are there holding their hands and letting our own soldiers die on their soil for internal conflicts which they need to handle. The US being in the Middle East is part of an agenda from a previous administration to get us closer to the oil over there and to make us indispensible to countries that have it.
Posted by: PinkMych