Iraq
Congressman Dingell supports President Obama’s plan to responsibly end the Iraq War by withdrawing all combat troops by August 31, 2010 and all troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.  Congressman Dingell understands that after years of mismanagement and no accountability by the Bush Administration, pulling out the troops too rapidly would be dangerous for American soldiers and Iraqis alike. 

In 2002, Congressman Dingell opposed the use of force resolution that authorized the war in Iraq. He felt that the President did not make an adequate case for war and was unprepared for the invasion’s aftermath. Congressman Dingell did not believe that the President made a persuasive case that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction or that he was on the verge to giving them to terrorists. He did not believe that Iraq was the central front in what the Bush Administration termed, “the War on Terror.” And Congressman Dingell did not think that the Administration had a plan to rebuild the country after the war. Tragically, he was proven correct on all of these points. Read a letter he wrote to President Bush prior to the authorization vote outlining his concerns.

In 2007, Congressman Dingell introduced legislation to force President Bush to take responsibility for the war in Iraq.  The legislation would have required the President to begin a troop withdrawal from Iraq within 30 days of its enactment and complete the withdrawal by the time President Bush left office on January 20, 2009.  H.R. 3938, the Bring Our Troops Home Responsibly Act of 2007, would have also required the President to implement the findings of the Iraq Study Group, assist with the rebuilding and reconstruction of Iraq, engage in vigorous diplomacy to enlist the assistance of other regional and global actors in these efforts, and provide humanitarian assistance to millions of Iraq refugees that have been displaced by sectarian violence.  Congressman Dingell did not re-introduce the legislation in the 111 th Congress because President Obama put forward a responsible plan to end the war in Iraq.

Congressman Dingell is also greatly troubled by the humanitarian crisis that his Iraq War has created.  Iraqis are now one of the largest displaced population in the world and the fastest-growing refugee population globally.  More than two million refugees have fled to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Syria, causing serious resource and security challenges for these countries. An additional 2.5 million Iraqis have been internally displaced, having fled their homes due to the ongoing threat of sectarian violence. Congressman Dingell believes that our government has a moral responsibility to provide leadership for this expanding humanitarian crisis.  He is a primary cosponsor of legislation introduced by Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) which provides a comprehensive plan to assist Iraqi refugees and IDPs. Click here to read the legislation. Congressman Dingell has also made numerous calls to increase funding for the crisis.

Afghanistan
The Obama Administration has inherited two badly mismanaged wars from the previous Administration. While Congressman Dingell was against the Iraq war from its inception, he believes President Obama is rightly focusing on the United States’ daunting mission in Afghanistan and supports his call to increase the number of U.S. troops and boost civilian resources in that country.  The Congressman plans to support policies that will eventually bring Afghanistan economic stability by marginalizing the opium trade, root out Taliban insurgents, and shore up Afghanistan’s democracy.

Our soldiers and their families have paid an enormous cost during these long conflicts, and they have performed admirably. Unfortunately they were let down by the civilian leadership in this Administration. Congressman Dingell believes strongly that the United States must do a better job of honoring our veterans. Read more about Congressman Dingell’s work for veterans.