Challenging the Iraq Victory Narrative

Abstract

On November 18, 2005, E. J. Dionne, Jr., of the Washington Post penned an opinion piece in which he predicted that “this will be remembered as the week when President Bush lost control over the Iraq War debate.”1 On the previous day, sixteen-term Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), decorated Vietnam War veteran and strong supporter of the military, ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and the senior Democrat on its defense panel on military spending matters, issued an official statement that fired a volley into the heart of the Bush narrative of the Iraq War and its outcome: The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion…The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction.…It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America… The threat posed by terrorism is real, but we have other threats that cannot be ignored.…Our military in Iraq has been fighting a war in Iraq for over two and a half years. Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty.…But the war continues to intensify.…I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agree, Iraq can not be won “militarily.” Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. IT IS TIME TO BRING THEM HOME.2