Mennonite Weekly Review

SULEIMANIYA, Iraq — As the U.S. declares the end of its combat role, Iraq’s future is more complex and uncertain than the U.S. narrative seeks to present, according to a report published Aug. 31 by Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq.

The report quotes Iraqis who shed doubt on the effects of the 2007 troop “surge,” the trustworthiness of the Iraqi military, and the reliability of Iraqi public figures and institutions.

“Iraqis in this report challenge the simplistic success story that the U.S. is telling about Iraq,” said Marius van Hoogstraten of CPT Iraq.

The report, “Iraq After the Occupation — Iraqis Speak About the State of Their Country as the U.S. Military Withdraws,” is based on extensive interviews with Iraqi citizens in various parts of the country. It recommends that the U.S. think creatively about ways to support Iraqi society before the U.S. military withdraws entirely at the end of 2011.

The U.S., which invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003, recently announced an end of combat missions, in preparation for a complete withdrawal by the end of 2011.

The report notes that there is no consensus on the future of Iraq. Some interviewees expect the security situation to get much worse, while others are more optimistic. However, none expect Iraq to be independent after a complete U.S. withdrawal.

“I don’t think the American army came all this way, spent all this money, then to leave [Iraq] a prey to others,” one Baghdad resident is quoted as saying.

Although the report confirms an improved security situation over the last few years, it questions the contribution of the “surge” — the deployment of U.S. military reinforcements in 2007. About half of those interviewed pointed instead to the U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi cities in 2009 as the major contributor to the improved security situation.

Many respondents see the increased skill and capacity of the Iraqi security forces as a positive factor, although a majority maintains concerns about their trustworthiness and independence. One Baghdad resident who was quoted is worried about a lack of “educational aspects in the field of human rights and loyalty to the homeland” in the Iraqi security forces.

Respondents also express serious concerns about the credibility of Iraqi politicians, the “abominable state of public services” and the economy, and corruption.