Foreign Policy

Stand Together Trust's Statement in Response to President Trump's Address on Iran

January 8, 2020

ARLINGTON, Va.—Stand Together Trust’s William Ruger, Vice President of Research and Policy, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s address on Iran:

“We implore President Trump to continue to show appropriate military restraint in response to the Iranian attacks last night and to pursue the diplomatic path that he suggested in his remarks today. The maximum pressure campaign, championed by some of his advisors, has increased hostilities between the two countries that threatened an unnecessary war.  The administration needs to take advantage of both sides hitting the brakes to chart a new course that protects our long-run interests. This means continuing to vigorously defend the United States while also rethinking the wisdom of the maximum pressure campaign and our current approach to Iran and Iraq.  Sticking with maximum pressure promises further conflict. The United States can be safe and secure without U.S. forces in Iraq and thus we ought to, at the appropriate time, bring our troops back home.”

BACKGROUND

The Iraqi parliament voted 170-0 on Sunday to expel U.S. forces from the country following the U.S. military strike that killed Iranian IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani. The vote begins the process to ask U.S. troops to withdraw. The parliament will still need to pass formal legislation before American troops would be forced to leave.

Stand Together Trust is working to expand public debate about what foreign policy will make us more safe and secure. Find out more below:

Public Realism on Afghanistan

War Is the Least Conservative Undertaking – An Interview with Dr. William Ruger

 

For media requests, please contact:
Rachel Tripp
rtripp@standtogether.org
(571) 481-0783