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Questions and Answers
about AFSC's Position

Will withdrawal of U.S. troops increase the violence?

No, we believe that an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops is essential to stem the violence over the long term.

The AFSC is convinced that the presence of U.S. troops is a destabilizing force in the region and contributes to the increasing loss of life. An army that was greeted by many as liberators is now seen as oppressive and dictatorial. The U.S. occupation has not met its fundamental obligation to provide for security and basic needs.

It becomes clearer each day that the U.S. occupation has helped create and strengthen a broad-based and increasingly violent resistance. Any potential good resulting from the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is being destroyed as the open-ended occupation leads more and more Iraqis to question U.S. motives in their country.

The U.S. can best contribute to long-term peace and stability in Iraq by seeking the involvement of the international community and building support for Iraqi institutions.

What is the role of the international community if the U.S. withdraws its troops from Iraq?

The more control that the U.S. cedes to others and the sooner it does so, the more likely it becomes that the international community will take a leadership role in Iraq.

International bodies, such as the United Nations, have the capacity to design and implement broadly-supported policies and plans of action that can promote greater security for Iraqis. International opinion polls reveal a frightening level of animosity against the U.S. for its unilateral invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Greater cooperation with the international community is essential if the U.S. is to rebuild its credibility in the international system.

What gives the AFSC credibility to call for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq?

AFSC has been on the ground in the Middle East for more than 50 years and has worked in Iraq since the end of the Gulf War in 1991. It is one of the few western non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to have maintained a presence in Baghdad since the Iraq War.

AFSC’s work in Iraq since the war has included both relief and supporting community groups working to rebuild their country’s civil society. For more information on AFSC’s work in Iraq, visit our relief updates section.

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