Guiding Principles for U.S. Post-conflict Policy in Iraq

Report of an Independent Working Group Cosponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University

• Author(s): Edward P. Djerejian, Frank G. Wisner, Rachel Bronson, Council on Foreign Relations, Andrew S. Weiss,
• Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations
• Pages: 32
• ISBN_10: 0876093268
  ISBN_13: 9780876093269
  
• Language: en
• Categories: History / Wars & Conflicts / Iraq War (2003-2011) , Political Science / International Relations / General , Political Science / Security (National & International) , Political Science / Peace , Political Science / American Government / General , Political Science / World / Middle Eastern ,

Description:... Annotation The United States and other nations are fast approaching a fateful decision on whether or not to go to war with Iraq. It is difficult to imagine firing the first shots without the U.S. government having a realistic plan for what America and others -- above all, the Iraqis themselves -- will do the day after the fighting ends. If Washington does not clearly define its goals for Iraq and build support for them domestically and with its allies and partners, future difficulties are bound to quickly overshadow any initial military success. Put simply, the United States may lose the peace, even if it wins the war. This report offers the first intellectual road map for thinking through a post-war Iraq. It offers a three phased-approach that outlines how Iraq can transition from its immediate precarious situation to a stable more prosperous future. It also provides a detailed discussion of Iraq's energy capabilities in order to dispel many of the myths currently circulating through policy circles. Without serious early planning for "Iraq the day and decade after," a painful future awaits not only the Iraqi people, but American interests in the region as well. Success or failure in Iraq will be determined by whether the region is more or less stable after American involvement. Early planning will not be sufficient to determine a peaceful future. But it is the first necessary step.