Iraq campaign: frequently asked questions

Here's some background to our Iraq campaign - how we put it together, answers to some of your email questions (like what do Iraqis want?) plus background info. Read on, and if you agree, don't forget to sign the petition today!

What's the campaign?

We're targeting the decisive May 3/4 summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, at which Iraq and its neighbours will be joined by the G8 and the UN. We're running a major media, web and text-message campaign inside Iraq to bring unheard Iraqi voices to the summit.

At the same time, we're collecting signatures from every country in the world to our petition for a NEW plan for Iraq (90,000 signatures and counting...) before the summit delivery.

What exactly are you campaigning for?

There is no military solution in Iraq - the only solution is a political solution. The NEW plan was informed by consultation with experts and thousands of Iraqi members. It has three elements:

- NEGOTIATE. Iraq will be stabilized by a negotiated political process, not military force. All Iraqi factions and neighbors must be included. (this means all-party negotiations among internal factions, plus international negotiations also involving neighbours like Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia)

- EMPOWER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. Neither the US, nor the Iraqi government can lead this process (they're not honest brokers). Only more impartial and legitimate international actors like the United Nations, EU and OIC can mediate the new talks.

- WITHDRAW RESPONSIBLY. The US should respect the wishes of 78% of Iraqis and permanently and completely withdraw its military presence from Iraq under an agreed timetable supported by the Iraqi people.

These proposals are informed by the latest report from our expert colleagues at the International Crisis Group (which developed and went beyond the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group ), and by other input including this Oxford Research Group report and soundings of Iraqi public opinion and experts.

What do Iraqis themselves want?

A big March 2007 poll for the BBC, ABC News and other outlets found that 78% of Iraqis oppose the coalition troop presence and 69% think it's making the security situation worse overall, though a slim majority reject immediate withdrawal (in another poll , 71% supported a phased withdrawal over six months to a year).

51% approve of attacks on coalition troops and only 18% have any degree of confidence in them - the Iraqi army, the police and even militias all score much better.

58% think their elected representatives are currently unwilling to make the compromises necessary for peace and security, and 59% think the US, not the government, runs things in Iraq. The majority want a single national government, chosen democratically and based on compromise between the feuding groups.

So: the majority of Iraqis want phased (not immediate) coalition withdrawal, in conjunction with a political strategy of negotiations and compromise. Together with honest international help, these elements could support each other, and a framework for withdrawal is also one of the central conditions Sunni and Shia insurgent leaders have placed on entering negotiations.

Isn't civil strife the main problem in Iraq?

The coalition presence has helped to incubate a civil war in Iraq, and has tended to take the side of government forces - which are often just one party to the civil strife.

Experts like ICG think a more inclusive and legitimate process of all-party negotiations is now needed - plus, a horizon for troop withdrawals will help to focus the warring parties' minds on the need to co-exist with each other in future.

Why should neighbours and the wider international community be involved at all?

Iraq should be sovereign - but the nations of Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia are already involved in the Iraq war, one way or another. They need to prevent negative interference from their territories, and to start playing a stabilizing role. Meanwhile, the wider international community must provide vital support - diplomatically, economically and practically - if the future of Iraq is to be secured.

But we marched in 2003, and they ignored us...

Before the Iraq war started, 17 million people marched against it on one day, as well as holding myriad demonstrations, signing petitions and contacting our representatives. Yes, we were right - and we were ignored then. But that's no reason to give up. Civil society movements seldom win on day one - it can take months or years to turn power around. We need to build our strength and pick moments (like this one) where we can really make a difference.

How will the Iraq campaign be delivered?

The petition will be delivered to the Sharm El-Sheikh conference on May 3/4, and Iraqi text-messages will be projected near the US Capitol building (Congress) in Washington DC.

Just a handful of days till the conference - click here to add your voice and sign the campaign today!