The attention of our nation and the world is focused on the war in Afghanistan and to what extent we will increase the commitment of American troops and resources to that struggling nation. Yet before we escalate a war in Afghanistan, it makes sense to write the last chapter to the American war in Iraq. From where I stand here in desert north of Baghdad, the time to bring an end to our military involvement in Iraq has come. Goals have been met

Goals have been metFirst, we have met the original goals of our "Authorization of the Use of Force" against Iraq approved by Congress in 2002. At that time I worked in the Congress and had an opportunity to review the details of that resolution which provided the legal justification for our nation to go to war in Iraq. The resolution authorized the president to use force to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq."

First, we have met the original goals of our "Authorization of the Use of Force" against Iraq approved by Congress in 2002. At that time I worked in the Congress and had an opportunity to review the details of that resolution which provided the legal justification for our nation to go to war in Iraq. The resolution authorized the president to use force to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." The understanding on Capitol Hill at the time was that American war goals were to remove Saddam Hussein from power and destroy his weapons of mass destruction program. There were no weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein is dead and his regime gone.

The understanding on Capitol Hill at the time was that American war goals were to remove Saddam Hussein from power and destroy his weapons of mass destruction program. There were no weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein is dead and his regime gone.Second, al-Qaida in Iraq is not a threat to the United States, our allies or even the Iraqi government. The botched Bush Administration occupation of Iraq literally opened the door for thousands of al-Qaida members and sympathizers to base themselves amidst the chaos. Five long years after the initial breakdown of order, Iraqi security forces are vastly improved and according to U.S. Intelligence estimates, al-Qaida "no longer exerts political influence" in Iraq.

Second, al-Qaida in Iraq is not a threat to the United States, our allies or even the Iraqi government. The botched Bush Administration occupation of Iraq literally opened the door for thousands of al-Qaida members and sympathizers to base themselves amidst the chaos. Five long years after the initial breakdown of order, Iraqi security forces are vastly improved and according to U.S. Intelligence estimates, al-Qaida "no longer exerts political influence" in Iraq. Today, it is safe to say that al-Qaida is a spent and discredited force inside Iraq.

Today, it is safe to say that al-Qaida is a spent and discredited force inside Iraq.Third, another set of war goals set by President Bush once Iraq had descended into civil war in 2006 was the restoration of stability and establishment of democracy in a land that had never known both conditions at the same time.

Third, another set of war goals set by President Bush once Iraq had descended into civil war in 2006 was the restoration of stability and establishment of democracy in a land that had never known both conditions at the same time. Back from the brink

Back from the brinkSince 2007, numbers of Iraqi security forces have increased, while the level of violence has dramatically decreased. Americans killed in action have decreased from 904 in 2007, to 130 in 2009. While deep political divisions remain, there is a sense talking to leaders here that they went to the brink of oblivion, looked into the abyss, and all involved decided to pull back at the last minute.

Since 2007, numbers of Iraqi security forces have increased, while the level of violence has dramatically decreased. Americans killed in action have decreased from 904 in 2007, to 130 in 2009. While deep political divisions remain, there is a sense talking to leaders here that they went to the brink of oblivion, looked into the abyss, and all involved decided to pull back at the last minute.While stability in Iraq is relative, daily life here does go on. Every day without mass violence is another day closer to establishing the kind of stability necessary for political reconciliation and economic growth. I see encouraging signs of this when working with Iraqi political leaders and activists in preparation for upcoming Parliamentary elections.

While stability in Iraq is relative, daily life here does go on. Every day without mass violence is another day closer to establishing the kind of stability necessary for political reconciliation and economic growth. I see encouraging signs of this when working with Iraqi political leaders and activists in preparation for upcoming Parliamentary elections.Almost all political parties are moving toward platforms and messages based on "national unity" and "reconciliation." Political parties that stuck to sectarian appeals were trounced in provincial elections earlier this year. There is a yearning among the people of Iraq to end political violence, a willingness to stay together as a nation and optimism about the future. Recent public opinion polls indicate that by a two-to-one margin Iraqi citizens feel that life today is better than it was six months ago.

Almost all political parties are moving toward platforms and messages based on "national unity" and "reconciliation." Political parties that stuck to sectarian appeals were trounced in provincial elections earlier this year. There is a yearning among the people of Iraq to end political violence, a willingness to stay together as a nation and optimism about the future. Recent public opinion polls indicate that by a two-to-one margin Iraqi citizens feel that life today is better than it was six months ago.The current plan, under the "Status of Forces Agreement" signed between the U.S. and Iraq last year, is for all American troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. However Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that he could see a "residual force of thousands" of U.S. troops after 2011 and widely circulated estimates place the number closer to 50,000.

The current plan, under the "Status of Forces Agreement" signed between the U.S. and Iraq last year, is for all American troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. However Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that he could see a "residual force of thousands" of U.S. troops after 2011 and widely circulated estimates place the number closer to 50,000.At a time when our national treasury is empty and a war in Afghanistan is going poorly, we can ill afford a continued presence in strength in Iraq. The future viability of the Iraqi state will be decided by the will of its own people, and nothing we can do by force of arms can change that fact.

At a time when our national treasury is empty and a war in Afghanistan is going poorly, we can ill afford a continued presence in strength in Iraq. The future viability of the Iraqi state will be decided by the will of its own people, and nothing we can do by force of arms can change that fact.Scott Bates is a former senior advisor for the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. He is working with Iraqi leaders to strengthen democratic institutions. Bates lives in Stonington where he serves as police commissioner. He can be reached at www.scottbates.us.

Scott Bates is a former senior advisor for the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. He is working with Iraqi leaders to strengthen democratic institutions. Bates lives in Stonington where he serves as police commissioner. He can be reached at www.scottbates.us.