Win Without War Statement on President Obama’s Iraq Remarks

Last Updated on June 19, 2014.


The Win Without War coalition released the following statement by Coalition Coordinator, Stephen Miles, in response to President Obama’s latest remarks on the situation in Iraq. The President announced that up to 300 special operations forces would be deployed to Iraq and that the U.S. was prepared to launch airstrikes.

“The President’s announcement today on Iraq signaled a dangerous escalation of US military involvement in a problem the President himself has said has no military solution. It is also a dangerous retreat from the conditions that the President set for US engagement. What is needed in Iraq is a political solution, and any US support must only be made after changes to the policies of Prime Minister Maliki that are fueling sectarian tensions and growing this conflict.

“While we welcome the President’s opposition to sending combat troops back into Iraq, history has shown that advisors can become ground troops, despite the best intentions. Equally troubling, the President is still threatening airstrikes, which would be counterproductive, and firmly make America part of what is a growing Iraqi civil war. President Obama needs to listen to the American people who do not want to restart the Iraq war.”

June 19, 2014