HagaMUN 2010: Research Report

Forum: General Assembly 1st Committee: Disarmament and International Security
Issue: Ensuring peace and stability in Iraq after the departure of the United States of America and its allies
Student Officer: Bas Duivenvoorde, Chair

Introduction

March 20th, 2003, was the day that the Republic of Iraq was invaded by a multinational force led by the United States of America and the United Kingdom. These forces have been occupying Iraq until today, though, since August 2009 all non US troops have been withdrawn. One of the first things President Barack Obama of the USA did after his inauguration in January 2009 was to set up a timetable for the withdrawal of the US troops.

The plan, as explained in a speech by Obama in February 2009, calls for most US troops to leave Iraq by August 2010. A force of 35,000 to 50,000 troops will remain in the country to assist Iraqi security forces, protect Americans and fight terrorism. All troops will be withdrawn by the end of 2011, a date established last year by the administration of the former US President George W. Bush and the Iraqi government. Another condition of that agreement requires US troops leave Iraqi cities by June 30 this year.

Yet, it is very questionable whether Iraq can survive without foreign troops. Given the fact that the country is very unstable and that all three major ethnic population groups in the country: the Sunnis, Shiites and the Kurds have difficulties with each other.

History of the Issue

The Iraq War (also known as the Second Gulf War or Operation Iraqi Freedom) after a period of tensions with the USA and the UK. These countries claimed that Iraq was in the possession of weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations Security Council called for, in UNSC Resolution 1441, for Iraq to completely cooperate with United Nations weapon inspectors to confirm that Iraq did not in possess any weapons of mass destruction. The United