Congressman Sander Levin

Ending the War in Iraq

On October 10, 2002, the House of Representatives voted 296 to 133 to give President Bush the authority to use military force in Iraq to address an alleged threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. I voted against giving the President that authority. More than six years later, I remain convinced of the need to change a policy that has not worked and re-focus our nation's resources to genuine security threats.

Of course, we now know that Iraq did not possess any weapons of mass destruction; neither did Saddam Hussein's regime have any links to Osama bin Laden or al-Qaeda. Ironically, the Bush Administration's fixation with fighting a war in Iraq diverted U.S. resources from the effort to fight the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks. These terrorists are located in Afghanistan and the vast, mountainous tribal areas of Pakistan.

Earlier this year, President Obama stated that the U.S. will begin to draw down our forces in Iraq and complete the removal of combat troops by August 2010. He also announced a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The plan acknowledges our national interest in combating terrorism and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the need for stability in the region, especially with regard to safeguarding Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. At the same time, the President's plan correctly recognizes that we need a comprehensive strategy that does not rely on U.S. military force alone.

We need to give President Obama's strategy a chance to work. I actively support a responsible end to the war in Iraq and re-focusing our resources to root out terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• Rep. Levin Calls for Change of Direction on Iraq/Afghanistan

(Updated August 4, 2009)