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December 11, 2007
Wednesday - Monday, December 12 - 17: Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Iraq
On Friday and Monday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will convene at Mounds Park Academy to discuss the fate of the United States mission in Iraq. It has been almost five years since the United States invaded Iraq. The mission has changed substantially since that invasion and the American people want a definitive answer about how the mission can been completed.
Three options will be discussed at the meeting. They are as follows.
Option 1: Increase Our Presence in Iraq
Last spring, George Bush committed to the “surge,” a policy that increased the number of troops in Iraq by about 20,000. Option 1 calls for extending this surge. Even more troops will be sent to Iraq to try to permanently stabilize the situation and to allow the Iraqis to develop an effective, democratic government.
Option 2: Provide Iraqis with the Means to Succeed
Option 2 argues that the United States cannot make an open-ended, undefined commitment to Iraq. Instead, the United States should slowly draw down its troop presence in Iraq and encourage other countries and the United Nations to become involved with the process of stabilizing Iraq. This plan would allow the Iraqi government to develop, but it wouldn’t place the entire burden of the mission on the United States.
Option 3: Withdraw from Iraq Now
Option 3 argues that all United States troops must leave Iraq immediately. This plan assumes that the mission in Iraq has failed because it has only increased violence in Iraq and hatred directed at the United States. Additionally, those who support Option 3 argue that the mission in Iraq has diverted resources from more important conflicts and concerns.
Each of you will be assigned to one of these options. During the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting, you will be testifying in support of your option. Each group will give a short opening statement supporting its option and then all of the members of the group will answer questions about and defend their option. When your group is not testifying, you will be a member of the committee who asks questions and debates with the other options’ supporters.
In order to prepare for this assignment, you need to do a few things. Carefully follow the steps listed below.
1. Once you receive your option, read it over carefully. Make sure that you and everyone in your group understands your option.
2. Make a list of at least five arguments that support your option. Record these arguments on the preparation sheet that you received in class (Initial Brainstorm section).
3. Use the additional information that you received (maps, graphs) and the information that you find on this BBC site to find more evidence supporting your option. Record this evidence and how it can be used on the preparation sheet. Make sure that you find at least four pieces of evidence to support your option.
4. Develop at least three arguments against each of the other options. For each argument, write a question that you could ask that could help you make that point/argument against the option. For example, if you don’t think that the United States has enough troops to support a troop increase, you might ask, “How many troops will the United States need to support your troop increase?” and then “Where will the United States get these additional troops?”
You will be graded on your preparation sheet, your testimony and your questions. I will be looking for thorough, detailed arguments, appropriate evidence that is tied to specific arguments and focused, relevant questions.
You must have the preparation sheet completed for Friday/Monday's class.
Posted by kmurr at December 11, 2007 9:08 PM