Ending the Iraq war : a primer / Phyllis Bennis.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 204-219).

Pt. I. The War in Iraq -- What does Iraq at war look like? -- Didn't the "surge" strategy work? -- Isn't the Iraq war really a civil war between Iraqis? -- What are the costs of the war for Iraq and Iraqis? -- What do Iraqis want? -- Didn't Iraqis want the US to overthrow Saddam Hussein? -- Who are Iraq's Shi'a, Sunnis, and Kurds? -- What is the special relationship between Iraqi Kurds and the US? -- Aren't there huge differences between Iraq's Sunnis, Shi'a, and Kurds? Shouldn't we just divide Iraq into three separate states? -- Didn't the US bring democracy, a constitution, and an elected government to Iraq? -- What war crimes have been committed in Iraq? -- Do Iraqis have the right to resist? -- Pt. II. The US at War -- Doesn't the Iraq war make us safer against another terrorist attack like 9/11? Shouldn't we "fight them there so we don't have to fight them here"? -- What are the human, economic, and other costs to the US? -- Why did the US and UK invade Iraq? -- What kind of relationship did the US have with Iraq before the 2003 invasion, war, and occupation? -- Was the US - UK invasion of Iraq legal? Is the war legal now? -- Didn't the US troops in Iraq all volunteer to be there? -- What are "private military contractors"and why does the US need 150,000 of them in Iraq? -- Does calling for an end to the war mean we're not supporting the troops? -- Why is the US maintaining fifteen-plus bases in Iraq? -- What does oil have to do with the Iraq war? -- Who benefits from the Iraq war? -- What do Americans want? -- Pt. III. The Iraq War, the Region, and the World -- How does the Iraq war affect global terrorism? -- How does the Iraq war affect what is known as Islamic fundamentalism? -- What is Israel's role in the Iraq war? -- What is Iran's role in the Iraq war? -- Do Arab and other governments in the region support the Iraq war? What about Arab people? -- Isn't the Iraq war distracting the US from the real war against terrorism in Afghanistan? -- What was the United Nations' role in authorizing the Iraq war? -- What has the UN done during the US - UK occupation of Iraq? -- Even without UN endorsement, wasn't the invasion of Iraq really an international campaign because of the "coalition of the willing"? -- What do people and governments around the world think about the Iraq war and about the US as a result of the war? -- Pt. IV. Ending the War -- What does it mean to "end the war"? -- Isn't the US trying to get out of Iraq as soon as possible? -- Wouldn't it be irresponsible for the US to withdraw all the troops? Don't we need them to scaffold the Iraqi government, protect the US embassy, defend the bases, train the Iraqi military, protect the oil, and more? -- Should we replace US and UK troops with UN Blue Helmets? -- What will Iraq's neighbors do if the US and UK pull out? -- What can the US Congress do about the war? -- Are opponents of the war really soft on terrorism? -- What will happen if the US and UK end the occupation, withdraw all their troops, and close the military bases? -- If 70 percent of Americans want to end the war, why is it continuing? -- What will it take to force the US government to end the war?

"Public opinion in the United States and Great Britain has long called for ending the Iraq war - in recent polls about 70 percent of Americans agree. But the war continues, and what it will take to finally end it is not as clear. In an easy-to-read "frequently asked questions" format, long-time Middle East analyst Phyllis Bennis discusses the issues that have determined the course of the war, with an eye toward ending the US-led occupation and bringing peace to Iraq and the region. She analyzes the history of US and UK relations with Iraq, the origins of the war, the role of oil, the roles of Israel and other regional players, the past and possible future role of the UN, and the private military contractors and stop-loss policies that have made this war possible - at such a huge cost. And she examines Iraq at war, its sectarian divisions and the makeup of the resistance, and the terrible price Iraqis continue to pay for the war and occupation. She outlines possible courses of action for the US Congress and for the global antiwar movement, and critiques the plans for ending the war that have been presented thus far. This urgent, concise discussion will help every reader understand the war in Iraq in context, and provides the honest, independent analysis most needed for those working to end the war."--BOOK JACKET.