Customer Reviews

Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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There is a lot of bluster from both sides of the bench (and Atlantic) regarding Iraq, but Mr. McGovern's book is the only one that concisely and carefully analyses the history of Iraq, our attack on the sovereign nation and why it was illegal under international law, and, most important - why and HOW we should leave Iraq with dignity.

It is for this last reason that I recommend this book so strongly. It's easy to dissect the mess we created in Iraq and to blame fingers at our American leaders and public for their bloodlust, disregard for brown people's lives, and greed for oil, but it's hard to come up with a feasible exit strategy.

Everything went wrong in Iraq and we know it's our fault; we can't make it like new but we can leave with some shred of honour for ourselves and the Iraqis (those who survive the bloodbath we've rained on them).

A concise book and a well-written one. Five stars out of five.

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As I write this review shortly after the midterm elections, parties on all sides of the Iraq War are awaiting with great anticipation the report of the Baker Hamilton "Iraq Study Group." Whatever that effort produces, an exit strategy is already available in this short, aptly titled book by two well known experts on the Middle East.

After he retired from politics, Senator George McGovern resumed his prior profession of teaching history and headed the Middle East Policy Council in Washington for six years. William R. Polk taught Middle East history and politics at Harvard and Chicago, published many books on the region, and has closely studied Iraq since he first visited Baghdad in 1947. In 2005 he published Understanding Iraq, a highly readable 213 page history.

The two authors have collaborated on a book that recaps what Iraq is and who the Iraqis are, analyzes the effects of the invasion and occupation on Iraq and on America, and then lays out in a single chapter a 24 point exit strategy, followed by a brief warning about the dire consequences
of our not making a reasonably rapid exit. They foresee a phased withdrawal of all foreign military troops by June 30, 2007, including the 25,000 mercenaries euphemistically called "Personal Security Details" provided by 50 foreign firms. They put their plan's cost at about $14 billion -- a true bargain considering projections that another two years of the occupation would cost at least $350 billion. They insist that the plan must be implemented as a coordinated whole.

To facilitate the transition, McGovern and Polk urge the Iraqi government to request the short-term services of an international force to help police the country during and after our withdrawal, perhaps remaining for as much as two years. This force should be drawn from Arab and/or other
Muslim countries, whose personnel would be much better equipped with an understanding of the culture, religion, language and traditions of the Iraqi populace to carry out police work.

There is not space here to describe the plan's other 22 points in detail, but a good many are worthy of mention. For instance, the authors view the training of a permanent Iraqi national police force as essential, but oppose recreation of a national army, which in the past has been more disruptive than helpful. They also call for Washington to release all prisoners of war and to close our detention centers as soon as possible. To counter the impression that we plan to stay in Iraq long-term we must cease construction of some 14 "enduring" American military bases now under way (five of which are as large as cities). For similar reasons, we should vacate the Green Zone by the end of 2007.

The authors also urge the U.S. to fund a project to hire and train Iraqis to find and destroy mines, unexploded ordnance and depleted uranium; pay reparations for loss of lives and property; and allow Iraq to renegotiate oil contracts entered into during the occupation. Finally, though it may be hard for us to do it, America should express its condolences for the large number of Iraqis killed, incapacitated, incarcerated and tortured. This cost free gesture would help greatly to restore our reputation in Iraq, the region, and the world.

McGovern and Polk close by calling on all Americans to acknowledge the debt we owe to the men and women who served in Iraq, and to treat them as well as were the returning veterans from World War II: "Now is the time for healing the wounds of war and trying to understand its lessons. The veterans of the war in Iraq especially need and deserve a comprehensive rehabilitation -- physically, mentally, educationally and economically, including the highly successful offerings of the World War II G.I. Bill of Rights."

This brief book provides a reasonable, workable and inexpensive road map for extricating ourselves from the Iraq quagmire. It should be essential reading not only for all decision makers and their advisers in Washington, but all Americans.

George McGovern and William Polk obviously believe that plans of action should
be based on fact. They, therefore,begin the book with a background summary
of how the U.S. got into the war and a discussion about Iraq and its people.
They then provide a "damage report" in lives lost and forever changed -"on
Americans, on Iraqis,and on the U.S. position in world affairs". It is a
good presentation of the history and current situation.

The meat of the book is a detailed description of a balanced program for
getting out: along with a cost analysis for each suggestion compared to
the current cost of the war. Those cost comparisons should be remembered
when the cry goes out that we can't afford to pay for helping to repair
the mess we've made while we quietly let the money flow through our
fingers every day we are there now.

This is the most important book about the most relevant issue of our times. The foundation of the general welfare of all citizens of the world community largely depends on the outcome of the Iraq issue, i. e., how do we exit with the least amount of damage to all concerned. While Senator McGovern should be applauded for joining in the presentation of this well crafted, well thought out, and extremely well documented masterpiece, in Dr. Polk we are given the benefit of the singularly most comprehensive knowledge of the Middle East possessed by anybody on this planet. This is a plaudit that has been earned "on the ground" and backed up by 45(+) years of dangerous, exciting, and detailed formative experiences in this explosive territory, unequaled by any other person, and is not simply given or proffered lightly by an acquaintance.

The plan set forth by Dr. Polk, and his co-author Senator McGovern, is a clear, concise, and straight forward map that should be carefully considered, discussed, and debated by all interested parties throughout the world...sooner rather than later! This is not just another book on this critically important subject, it is the definitive guideline to end this [mis]adventure with the least amount of damages. No other solution offered so far has even come close to making this much sense, regardless of one's political persuasion or world position. It is, without a doubt, "Required Reading 101" for all who voice, express, and have an opinion on this matter

Out of Iraq is a truly remarkable book which should be read by all Americans engaged in pondering the enigma of our presence in Iraq. Analyses based on solid knowledge describe the formation of present day Iraq and their experience under British rule; how the Iraqis have experienced American rule and how our military adventure has impacted our nation and our troops. Some of this is tough reading; American atrocities are described and their origins discussed. While the book is not footnoted, it is based on solid evidence as well as on in depth historical knowledge of comparable situations. The result is a wise presentation of the hole we have dug ourselves into, followed by a proposal for a US withdrawal coupled with proposed measures to aid in Iraqi recovery and to compensate for some of the damage done. In each case, McGovern and Polk explain why their proposals are the best way out, based on similar experiences in other wars.
This, then, is a serious and marvelously concise account of the situation in Iraq - and in the US - and what can be done about it, based on solid scholarship and solid American values. From teenagers to Senators and Congresspeople, it should be read and pondered by us all.

The back cover says, "Former Senator George McGovern and William R. Polk, a leading authority on the Middle East, offer a detailed plan for a speedy troop withdrawal from Iraq." They do, but their 142 page book devotes only 32 pages to the plan. Many Americans, probably a majority, now agree that the United States needs to change course in Iraq. McGovern and Polk's plan offers a way to change course. Likewise, the task force chaired by Baker and Hamilton presents a way to change course. At this point, it is impossible to say what is the right plan: McGovern and Polk, Baker and Hamilton, some other plan, or perhaps "stay the course."

McGovern and Polk devote over half their book to recounting how much damage the Iraq war has caused to the United States and to Iraq. The damages are in loss of life, damage to the health of the invaders and the invaded, destruction of real property, increasing insurgency (terrorism?), and the fallout in world-wide opinion. There is little here that hasn't been reported before, but gathering it all together does make it more sobering.

A basic premise of the book is that only the Iraqis can resolve the problems of Iraq. Further, the Iraqis can't do that until the United States gets out of the way. We must begin disengaging immediately and complete the job quickly. Further, the United States needs to underwrite (but not control) repairing as much as possible the damage the war has caused in Iraq. Only in this way can the United States do what is right and halt the erosion of world opinion with regard to the United States.

The book makes a lot of assumptions about what would have happened differently had the United States made different decisions and taken different actions. Even more assumptions follow about what will happen if the United States were to pursue the plan presented by McGovern and Polk. Unfortunately, the efficacy of the plan rests on the validity of the assumptions. Each reader must sort this out for herself or himself.

The situation regarding Iraq is bad and has been on a downward trend for many months. Every American needs to become informed, reach some decisions, and let our elected officials know of our opinions and concern. This book can be read easily and quickly. I hope that most American citizens and all members of Congress and the Administration read it. We, as a country, need to make some decisions very quickly.

This book is so much more than a lot of extremely important information about Iraq. It proposes an American withdrawal based on our highest American ideals -- treating the Iraqis as we would want to be treated in similar circumstances.

America and Iraq will be safer if the authors' plan becomes law. This assertion is backed by strong, logical, informed arguments.

I'm giving copies of this book to my representatives in Washington and urge they work to make this plan law.

Once again George McGovern makes a logical and realistic view on an important world issue. I would suggest all read this volume and give serious consideration to the plan suggested. Thank you to both authors!

In 1972 George McGovern lost the presidential election to Richard Nixon by an Electoral College vote of 520-17. He even lost his home state of South Dakota, due in large part to his "liberal" opposition to the war in Vietnam. The ridicule he endured was intense. Thirty-five years later, I dare say that history views him differently. Perhaps with this book we'll listen to him now. After serving as a bomber pilot in World War II, earning a PhD from Northwestern University, and serving in both the House and Senate for over twenty years, McGovern has distinguished himself with a broad array of humanitarian causes. His co-author William Polk taught at Harvard and the University of Chicago, in addition to serving as a Middle East specialist in the State Department.

The title of their book is a bit misleading. In the first four chapters they explain why we need to exit Iraq. They view the war as not only a "calamitous mistake" but a "terrible and useless waste" of people and finances because, ultimately, the war as it has been waged is unwinnable. The longer we stay the worse it will get, so true patriotism and true support of our troops means we should exit Iraq as soon as possible. Especially helpful in these first four chapters is a general and simple history of Iraq with special focus since the British invasion in World War I. McGovern and Polk are harsh in their verdict about the rationale for the war; the many falsehoods the public has been told were due partly to gross incompetence but also to deliberate deception. Beyond the many costs of the war to our country and even the world, the public's trust of its political institutions has been badly corroded. Only in a fifth chapter do the authors explain how we might leave. Reading their 24 bullet points (pp. 96-122) about the military, economic, cultural, civic, political, social, and moral complexities of any exit of any sort makes you realize just how catastrophic the war has been. This is a debacle that will take decades to repair, and the sooner we start the better.

Finally a look at reality of the Irak diaster. As tough and revolting the analysis reads, William Polk looks at Bush's war with the eye of someone who is able to apply the lessons of history. Is that not the first lesson we tach our children when we inspire them to learn, so they can make a difference for the better? Sound reasoning is telling the American politicians HOW to get out of the growing catastrophy which faces not only this country but the world. William Polk's and George McGovern's plan is the only one to suggest the withdrawel with resposibility and dignity - the only way to restore our face in the world.