Exit Strategy from Iraq: External Links 2003-2005

The following are external links for 2003-2005 for articles & commentary related to Exit Strategy from Iraq.

See external links for articles & commentary for : 2006.

• Also see stay the course

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Articles & Commentary

2003

• Ruth Rosen, "What's the Exit Strategy?" San Francisco Chronicle, July 10, 2003.
• Paul Harris, Jason Burke and Gaby Hinsliff, "Bush seeks an exit strategy as war threatens his career," Guardian/UK, September 7, 2003.
• Justin Raimondo, "Exit Stage Iraq? Is George W. Bush really getting ready to get out of Iraq? Don't count on it…," antiwar.com, October 20, 2003.
• Robert Kagan and William Kristol, "An Administration of One. Bush has made it clear that the only exit strategy from Iraq is a victory strategy, with victory defined as 'democracy'," The Weekly Standard, December 1, 2003.

2004

• Paul Reynolds, "Iraq exit strategy: Promise or hope?" BBC, May 17, 2004: "The 'exit strategy' suddenly being talked about by the office of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair is probably more of a hope than a promise."
• George Saunders, "Exit Strategy. How to leave Iraq in three simple steps," Slate, May 24, 2004: "There are, at present, two major constituencies in Iraq: those who want to kill us, and those who do not. Success will require minimizing membership in the former group."

2005

January

• David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, "Hot Topic: How U.S. Might Disengage in Iraq," New York Times, January 10, 2005.
• "Rice: No exit strategy," The Oakland Press, January 19, 2005.
• David Espo, "Senate Democratic leader to call for Iraq exit strategy," Associated Press, January 30, 2005.
• Bradley Graham and Peter Baker, for Troop Withdrawal Ruled Out," Washington Post, January 30, 2005.
• "U.S., Britain have exit strategy: First troops out in late 2005," World Tribune, January 31, 2005.

February

• Bob Deans, "Some fear Iraq exit strategy too much like Vietnam," Cox News, February 1, 2005.
• Carl Levin, Opening Statement of Senator Carl Levin at Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on Military Operations and Stabilization Activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, February 3, 2005.
• "Time for an Exit Strategy. Dual Corporate and Military Withdrawal from Iraq Urged," Democracy Rising.US, February 22, 2005.

March

• Carl Levin, "Mapping out our exit strategy in the Iraq war," The Hill, March 2, 2005.
• Sean Rayment, "Blair to Pull 5500 Troops from Iraq," Telegraph (UK), March 4, 2005.
• Gareth Porter, "The Exit Strategy," Foreign Policy in Focus, March 18, 2005. Posted on AlterNet website.
• Timothy M. Phelps, "The U.S. Exit Strategy. Letting Iraqis step in," Newsday, March 21, 2005.
• Justin Raimondo, "Iraq: An Exit Strategy. The 'tough love' approach," antiwar.com, March 30, 2005.

April

• "U.S. Has No Exit Strategy for Iraq, Rumsfeld Says," Bloomberg News, April 12, 2005.

May

• Warren P. Strobel and John Walcot, "Memo disputes Bush Iraq claims," Knight Ridder Newspapers, May 6, 2005.
• Kevin Zeese, "Congress Votes on Withdrawal of Troops," Online Journal (Democracy Rising), May 26, 2005. Includes roll call vote.

June

• David Sirota, "Time for an Exit Strategy," The Nation, June 9, 2005.
• Pepe Escobar, "Exit strategy: Civil war," Asia Times, June 10, 2005: "As Shi'ites and Kurds fought for three months to come up with an Iraqi cabinet, it is emerging from Baghdad that soon a broad front will emerge on the political scene composed of politicians, religious leaders, clan and tribal sheikhs - basically Sunni but with Shi'ite participation - with a single-minded agenda: the end of the US-led occupation."
• Susan Milligan, "More in Congress want Iraq exit strategy. Unease grows as war backing falls," Boston Globe, June 11, 2005.
• "UK Memo: U.S. had no postwar Iraq plan," Islam Online, June 12, 2005.
• Kevin Zeese and Ralph Nader, "The Growing Case for a Resolution of Inquiry," Democracy Rising.US, June 13, 2005.
• "New British Memo Contradicts Downing Street Memo, Raises New Questions," The Yellow Line blogspot, June 13, 2005.
• Edward Epstein, "Pelosi measure presses for timetable on Iraq withdrawal. Proposed rider to military spending bill seeks Bush's 'strategy for success'," San Francisco Chronicle, June 15, 2005.
• Jim VandeHei, "Bush Is Expected to Address Specifics on Iraq," Washington Post, June 16, 2005.
• Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "Small Bipartisan Group in House Presses for Iraq Exit Strategy," New York Times, June 16, 2005.
• Dan Froomkin, "Time to Focus on Iraq," Washington Post, June 16, 2005.
• "Lawmakers sound new call for Iraq exit strategy," Knight Ridder Newspapers, June 17, 2005: "With polls finding support for the Iraq war at a record low, some members of Congress are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for an exit strategy."
• Marc Sandalow, "A growing challenge to Bush on Iraq war. His ratings drop as a few GOP leaders ask for exit strategy," San Francisco Chronicle, June 19, 2005.
• Danny Schechter, "Time to Go? Behind the Calls for an Exit Strategy," Common Dreams, June 20, 2005. Posted on AfterDowningStreet website. "Suddenly, the words 'exit strategy' has entered into the popular discourse. 41 Congress members have formed an Out of Iraq caucus. Four, including two Republicans are proposing a Congressional resolution to set the date. More newspapers and opinion columnists are mouthing the words that were downright unacceptable or even treasonous in last fall's Presidential election."
• Jim Kane, "'Exit strategy' — a mere phrase, not a strategy," Heritage Foundation, June 21, 2005.
• Sanjoy Mahajan, "Anatomy of a Coverup," Zmag, June 23, 2005.
• Press Release: "President Welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Jaafari to the White House," White House, June 24, 2005.

July

• Glenn Frankel and Josh White, "British Memo: U.S. Hopes to Cut Force in Iraq in Half by Early 2006," Washington Post, July 10, 2005.
• Nigel Morris, "Brits mull Iraq exit," Independent (UK), July 10, 2005.
• "U.K. may turn over Iraq role to Australia," Big News Network, July 10, 2005: "Talks are under way to transfer military command of southern Iraq from England to Australia, the (London) Sunday Times reported. ... [and] the handover is intended to free up British troops for redeployment to the front line in Afghanistan. British officials could announce within weeks that several thousand British soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan. ... A framework has been devised between Britain, America and Australia in which (Britain) will take the frontline role in Afghanistan, a senior defense source told the newspaper. The aspiration is that the Australians will take over command of Multi-National Division South-East."
• Kevin Zeese, "Pressure Mounting from Inside and Outside Iraq. Exit Strategy: Within Reach," CounterPunch, July 14, 2005.
• David Rieff, "No Exit Strategy," The Nation, July 14, 2005. Book reviews of Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq by Larry Diamond ISBN 0805078681, and Losing Iraq: Inside the Postwar Reconstruction Fiasco by David L. Phillips ISBN 0813343046.
• Edward Wong, "8 Months After U.S.-Led Siege, Insurgents Rise Again in Falluja," New York Times, July 15, 2005.
• Jim Abrams, "House Votes Against Early Iraq Withdrawal," Associated Press, July 20, 2005. Posted on Washington Post website.
• Helena Cobban, "Next step in helping Iraqis: Set a withdrawal date," Christian Science Monitor, July 21, 2005.
• Tim Grieve, "War Room," Salon, July 21, 2005. Requires registration or site pass.
• Robert Burns, "Lawmakers Blast Pentagon Over Iraq Report," Associated Press, July 21, 2005; posted on Guardian/UK website.
• Will Dunham and Vicki Allen, "U.S. says Iraqi security forces' abilities limited," Reuters, July 21, 2005.
• Don Hodges, "A living history of the Iraq war's exit strategy. What is the exit strategy from the war in Iraq? It depends on whom you ask, and when," Iraq Exit Strategy Watch, July 21, 2005.
• Julian Borger, "Iraqi forces nowhere near being able to fight insurgency on their own, Senate told. Assessment suggests US occupation has a long future," Guardian/UK, July 22, 2005.
• Andrew Grice, Interview: "Geoff Hoon: 'We failed to predict the sheer level of violence in post-war Iraq'," Independent/UK, July 25, 2005.
• Gene Lyons, "Overextended, overexposed and surrounded," Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 27, 2005: "Sooner or later, somebody’s going to have to be irresponsible enough to suggest a sane way out of Iraq."
• Eric Schmitt, "In Surprise Visit to Baghdad, Rumsfeld Prods Iraqi Leaders," New York Times, July 27, 2005. Michael Glitz of AMERICAblog pointed out that "the Iraqis don't have the manpower, training, or ability to take over our mess. But of course, this isn't about a successful strategy for Iraq. This is about a shift the blame strategy for BushCo. ... So, when Baghdad becomes Saigon, BushCo will have already identified the scapegoats. Don't expect Rummy to play McNamara. No mea culpas from him."
• Editorial: "The Iraq mess," Toledo Blade, July 27, 2005.
• News Release: "Council Task Force Urges United States to Put Nation-building on Par with War-fighting. Calls for Overhauling U.S. Government for Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations," Council on Foreign Relations, July 27, 2005.
• "In the Wake of War: Improving U.S. Post-Conflict Capabilities," Council on Foreign Relations, July 27, 2005.
• Samuel R. Berger and Brent Scowcroft, Op-Ed: "The Right Tools To Build Nations," Washington Post, July 27, 2005; also copy posted on CFR website.
• Barry Schweid, "Panel: Bush Was Unready for Postwar Iraq," Associated Press, July 28, 2005.
• Robert Burns, "U.S. General Seeks Iraq Pullout by 2006," Associated Press, July 28, 2005.
• Ann Scott Tyson and Ellen Knickmeyer, "U.S. Signals Spring Start for Pullout. General Restates Position, Noting Contingencies, During Rumsfeld Visit to Baghdad," Washington Post, July 28, 2005.
• Fred Kaplan, "We Can Leave Iraq by 2007. Here's how," Slate, July 29, 2005.

August

• "US pullout from Iraq won't end attacks," Daily Star, August 2, 2005: "Withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan will not end the threat of terrorist attacks, says US Defense Secretary in Financial Times opinion piece."
• Norman Solomon, "Operation Withdrawal Scam," Tom Paine.Common Sense, August 2, 2005.
• Robert Burns, "U.S. Laying Groundwork for Iraq Pullout," Associated Press (ABC News), August 3, 2005: "If the U.S. were to withdraw before the Iraqis were ready, the American sacrifices of the past 2 1/2 years could be lost — and President Bush would face pressure to explain why the invasion was worth it."
• Amy Goodman, "Bush's Exit Plan: Fomenting War in Iraq," Democracy Now!, August 3, 2005.
• "Rebels Grow More Deadly," Atlanta Journal and Constitution (military.com), August 8, 2005.
• Drew Brown, "Meyers: 'Nobody knows' when Iraqis will take over security," Knight Ridder Newspapers, August 9, 2005.
• James Glanz, "Baghdad Mayor Is Ousted by a Shiite Group and Replaced," New York Times, August 10, 2005.
• Edwin Chen and Mark Mazzetti, "Bush Says Iraq Exit Timetable Is 'Speculation'. Generals said troops might begin pulling out in spring. The president counters that leaving too soon would amount to a betrayal of Iraqi voters," Los Angeles Times, August 12, 2005.
• Peter Baker, "In Iraq, No Clear Finish Line. Timing Is Muddy For U.S. Pullout," Washington Post, August 12, 2005.
• Robin Wright and Ellen Knickmeyer, "U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq. Administration Is Shedding 'Unreality' That Dominated Invasion, Official Says," Washington Post, August 14, 2005.
• Robert Dreyfuss, "First, Ignore The Neocons," Tom Paine.Common Sense, August 18, 2005: "Stunning as it may seem, over the past few weeks I’ve surveyed leading think tanks in New York and Washington and talked to former State Department and CIA officials, and it appears that virtually no one is working on a real plan for an exit strategy."
• Maureen Dowd, "Hey, What's That Sound?" New York Times, August 20, 2005.
• Josh Meyer, "Republican Senator Says U.S. Needs Iraq Exit Strategy Now. The war has destabilized the Mideast and created a potential Vietnam, Nebraska's Chuck Hagel says. Other lawmakers express frustration," Los Angeles Times (Common Dreams), August 22, 2005.
• Justin Webb, "In search of an Iraq exit strategy," BBC, August 27, 2005: "And where Mrs Sheehan and the public at large have led, the politicians of both main parties are following."
• Carl Hulse, "Senator Will Ask Rumsfeld to Testify to Panel on Iraq," New York Times, August 29, 2005.

September

• John Nichols, "Winning the Peace," The Nation, September 15, 2005.

November

• Gene Healy and Justin Logan, "Stay What Course? After 2,000 deaths, muddling through is no longer an option," Reason, November 2, 2005.
• Ivo H. Daalder, "An Alternative Strategy for Iraq," Brookings Institution, November 7, 2005.
• Paul Richter and John Daniszewski, "Iraqi, U.S. Officials Talk of Withdrawal. Authorities signal that foreign troops could start pulling out in the next two years," Los Angeles Times, November 15, 2005.
• Liz Sidoti, "Senate Republicans Block Iraq Timetable," Associated Press, November 15, 2005.
• Carl Hulse, "Senate Votes to Demand Regular Iraq Updates From White House," New York Times, November 15, 2005.
• Robert Kuttner, "On your mark, Democrats," Boston Globe, November 19, 2005.
• John Aravosis, "Iraq is Terri Schiavo," AMERICAblog, November 19, 2005: "Already dead, living on borrowed time, but the Republicans refuse to accept the inevitable. Yes, you can prolong the patient's life for decades. But at what cost, and for what real benefit?"
• Deb Reichman, "Bush urges patience with Iraq training," Associated Press (Boston Globe), November 30, 2005.
• David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, "Bush to Outline Broad Iraq Plan; Push on Training," New York Times, November 30, 2005.
• "Bush: U.S. to stay in Iraq till war is won. President does not set timetable for withdrawal of troops," CNN, November 30, 2005.
• Paul Reynolds, "Exiting Iraq: Strategies for Bush," BBC, November 30, 2005.
• Billmon, "A Strategy for Victory," Whiskey Bar, November 30, 2005. re National Strategy for Victory in Iraq
• Daneila Deane "Bush Unveils New Iraq Strategy," Washington Post, November 30, 2005.
• Mike Allen, "How Bush Plans to Get Out of Iraq. Stung by criticism, the President is putting out a strategy for victory. Will it work?" Time, November 30, 2005.
• Matthew Rothschild, "Bush’s Bloody Strategy for Victory," Progressive (Common Dreams), November 30, 2005.
• "Roll Call: Pelosi will back Murtha Iraq pullout resolution," The Raw Story, last updated November 30, 2005.

December

• Robert Dreyfuss, "What 'staying the course' really means," Asia Times, December 1, 2005.
• Judd, "Embedded TIME Reporter: Bush Lied In Speech Yesterday About Iraqi Security Forces," Think Progress, December 1, 2005. QT link for CNN appearance by Sen. John Warner (R-VA) on Anderson Cooper.
• Charles J. Hanley, "U.S. army analysts on target on Iraqi invasion foresee bleak road ahead," Associated Press (Canoe News), November 30, 2005.
• Editorial: "Bush creates illusion of progress in Iraq," Star Tribune, December 1, 2005.
• Raymond McGovern, "Bush Offers 'Clear Strategy'-- For Victory or Disaster?" Common Dreams, December 2, 2005.
• Al Pessin, "US General Won't Predict When Iraqi Forces Will Take Lead," Voice of America News, December 3, 2005.
• Alexander Cockburn, "The Revolt of the Generals. 'Broken, Worn Out' and 'Living Hand to Mouth'," CounterPunch, December 3/4, 2005.
• Tom Engelhardt, ed., "Michael Schwartz, Ten Ways to Argue about the War," Tom Dispatch (Common Dreams), December 4, 2005. Scroll down for Michael Schwartz's "Arguing about the War. The Top Ten Reasons for Staying in (Leaving) Iraq."
• Gus R. Stelzer, "Mr. Bush, Have I Got An Exit Strategy For You," Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Common Dreams), December 5, 2005.
• "Democratic senator says Bush fails to outline clear Iraq strategy," Associated Press (USA Today), December 10, 2005. re Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).