Sound Bites: 4th Anniversary of Iraq War

By Ajay Singh

March marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War, a conflict that has proven to be even more protracted for American troops than their engagement in World War II. Voices Editor Ajay Singh asked faculty members what they thought could be done to reduce the relentless violence in Iraq.

Nikki R. Keddie, professor emerita of history and an Iran expert

We should try to improve relations with Iran. Iranian and U.S. interests can be very similar in Iraq. Iran does not want trouble in Iraq, and if some Iranians are backing violence there, it's because they fear that if Iraq gets too peaceful the United States might attack Iran.

Michael Intriligator, professor of economics and political science

Iraq is an absolute disaster, and the way out of it is for the United States to form a conference of Iraq's neighboring states, including Iran, Syria, Turkey and Jordan. In fact, there is going to be just such a conference at the invitation of the Iraqis. We should have had that a year ago.

Amy Zegart, associate professor of public policy and a leading expert on intelligence reform

We're in a world of terrible options in Iraq. One option is to maintain the status quo, which would result in the deaths of thousands or more U.S. troops. Another option is to partition the country along ethnic and regional lines. A third option is civil war. I wish there were a quick answer [to Iraq's violence], but there is no answer.

L. Stephen Coles, visiting scholar, Department of Computer Science

We should declare victory and leave as soon as possible because we are part of the problem, not the solution. The predictions that there will be a bloodbath if we get out of Iraq are wildly exaggerated. On the contrary, Iraqis will step up to solve their security problems.