Opinion > September 27, 2007

By Matt Goetz | Old Gold & Black columnist

General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered long-awaited congressional testimonies last week on the military and political progress achieved in Iraq. Unfortunately, this supposedly nonpartisan assessment of the recent troop surge was filled with more of the same Bush Administration rhetoric. The president refused to admit to the failure of his policies in Iraq, and instead is relying on the reports by his top military and diplomatic envoys to convince Congress and the American public of the need to continue the occupation by American forces.

Rather than allow Congress to question a member of his administration, President George W. Bush has politicized the distinguished military career of General Petraeus. Because its policy recommendations were delivered by a four-star general, the Bush Administration has been able to condemn its critics as unpatriotic. In response to a MoveOn.org ad criticizing the war, GBush declared “I felt like the ad was an attack … on the U.S. Military.” This statement by the president is deplorable because it dishonors the sacrifices of the military men and women who remain under attack in Iraq because of his ineptitude as commander in chief.

The Bush Administration continues to deceive the public by manipulating its assessment of the security situation in Iraq. Many of the accomplishments cited in the recent testimonies do not stand up to scrutiny.

Although both Petraeus and Bush have touted the decrease in Iraqi civilian casualties as a major success of the surge, the apparent decline in civilian deaths is actually the product of the Administration’s skewed calculations.

The most recent casualty assessment does not classify gunshot wounds to the front of the head or car bombings as sectarian violence, even when sectarian motives are corroborated by witnesses on the scene. Although this technique decreased the appearance of sectarian strife in recent months, it did not convince the nearly 70 percent of Iraqis who stated in a recent BBC/ABC News poll that the American troop surge negatively affected its security.

Contrary to the optimistic assessment issued by the Bush Administration, the United States Government Accountability Office and the Iraqi Interior Ministry have not reported a decline in sectarian murders.

Far from ensuring security or winning hearts and minds, the American troop presence continues to provoke devastating violence in Iraq. When asked by the same poll who they felt was responsible for most of the continued violence in their country, a 25 percent plurality of the Iraqi people blamed American forces and Bush, followed by just over 20 percent who cited Al-Qaeda and foreign militants. Eighteen percent placed blame on sectarian disputes/Sunni and Shia militias.

The only major accomplishment of the surge has been the expulsion of predominantly foreign, Islamic militants from the Anbar province west of Baghdad. The success in this region did not result from an increase in coalition forces however, but from the decision by Sunni militias to cease their attacks on American soldiers and instead drive out the Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants. The Sunni militias, whose attacks on coalition forces have been a major source of military and civilian casualties, view the United States as an occupying force. Although they have currently allied with American troops against Al-Qaeda, it is only a matter of time before this agreement breaks and violence resumes.

In addition to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, Bush faces mounting political pressure at home from Democrats and an increasing number of Republicans to begin the inevitable withdrawal of troops. Despite his best efforts to shift public opinion, 65 percent of Americans continue to disapprove of the president’s handling of the war.

Although the Administration stated the possibility of bringing nearly 6,000 soldiers home before Christmas, this action would barely offset the 4,000 additional troops that will be deployed this month as part of the surge strategy.

Despite its proclamation of “Mission Accomplished” nearly four-and-a-half years ago, the Bush Administration continues to fail in its attempt to reconcile the complex political and economic conflicts it has created in Iraq. Nearly 3,800 American soldiers have been killed, and the estimate of Iraqi civilian casualties ranges from 100,000 to one million. The Democratic congress has failed to exercise its leadership in demanding an immediate end to military operations, and thus has achieved an approval rating lower than that of the president.

Rather than continue to blame the Iraqi government or foreign militants for the failure of democracy, it is time for American policy makers to recognize that lasting peace and stability will never be achieved by continuing the presence of American soldiers and private contractors in Iraq.

Matthew Goetz is a senior political science major from Mechanicsburg, Pa.