Former senior Pentagon adviser calls for a US withdrawal from Iraq
A prominent former senior adviser to the Pentagon, Colonel Douglas McGregor, has urged the United States to leave Iraq, describing the American military presence in the country as a strategic disaster. The retired colonel has long questioned the efficacy and consequences of the long-running mission, arguing that the current troop deployment does not serve clear strategic interests for the United States or its partners in the region.
In a post on the social platform X, McGregor stated that more than 5,000 American troops are currently deployed across 12 or 13 bases in Iraq, labeling these facilities as vulnerable targets. His critique rests on the premise that a continued, expansive footprint in Iraq risks escalating tensions and prolonging conflict rather than producing sustainable stability.
McGregor also questioned the rationale for maintaining a substantive U.S. presence in Iraq after two decades, asking whether the ongoing deployment is truly aimed at achieving security objectives or whether it might reflect a broader concern about underlying strategic failures that have persisted over the years. His perspective emphasizes the perceived mismatch between the current U.S. military configuration and achievable political outcomes in the country.
The former adviser argued that the American intervention created chaos within Iraqi institutions and society. He noted that the original operations in the country began with a declared objective to remove Saddam Hussein from power, a campaign that has had lasting and widely debated consequences for regional dynamics and international relations.
Historical context remains central to the discussion. The 2003 military operation known as Iraqi Freedom, conducted by the United States and allied nations, sought to topple the Hussein regime and reshape Iraq’s political landscape. The operation’s legacy continues to influence the debates surrounding U.S. policy in the region and the contentions regarding how to achieve long-term stability and governance in Iraq and neighboring states.
Reflecting on the events of the early 2000s, some observers have highlighted how the pursuit of leadership changes and regime dynamics affected the way the war was conducted and how subsequent counterterrorism efforts evolved. The narrative surrounding the hunt for Hussein has also entered public discourse through various accounts that detail the challenges of surveillance, intelligence gathering, and international cooperation during that period, as well as the broader implications for U.S. leadership and strategic aims in the Middle East.
Beyond the core military and political questions, the discourse touches on interpretations of statecraft, sovereignty, and the responsibilities that come with long-standing foreign commitments. Critics warn that protracted military involvement can complicate regional relationships, strain national resources, and, in some cases, hinder the pursuit of durable political settlements with Iraqi partners and regional actors. Supporters, meanwhile, argue for persistent engagement to counter threats and to support governance reforms and reconstruction efforts that could reduce violence and instability in the long run.
In addition to the Iraq debate, there are broader regional considerations, including how international coalitions address extremism and how neighboring powers influence the trajectory of Iraq’s future. The conversation continues to evolve as policymakers, military leaders, and analysts weigh lessons learned from past operations against the demands of present-day security challenges and the evolving landscape of global diplomacy.
As this dialogue unfolds, observers stress the importance of evidence-based assessments, clear objectives, and a realistic assessment of what success looks like in any scenario involving foreign troops on Iraqi soil. The focus remains on balancing national interests with regional stability, addressing humanitarian concerns, and supporting Iraqi institutions in ways that strengthen sovereignty and legitimacy without becoming entangled in perpetual conflict. The conversation about U.S. presence in Iraq will likely persist as analysts track developments, assess risk, and consider pathways toward a resolution that aligns with the broader goals of peace, security, and responsible leadership in the region.