Not Our Fight- The Millennial Case For Staying Out Of Iraq

Every generation is shaped by a unique set of moments and events that come to define the way they see the world.

The Baby Boomers have a long list of these indelible experiences, which might be why they are considered the most complex, interesting and misunderstood generation of all. From the assassination of JFK and the war in Vietnam to the bloody battle for Civil Rights and the birth of the Beatles, the Boomers are united by a collective history that has come to symbolize the most violent, turbulent, electric and culturally changing era in our nation’s history: the 1960s.

The Greatest Generation- the parents of the Boomers- are defined by arguably the two most important events of the 20^th century: the Depression and World War II.

For Millennials, our worldview has been shaped largely by two distinct events: 9/11 and the subsequent Iraq War. The first was a singular moment that shattered our collective innocence, the second a prolonged disaster based on a lie that made us eternally skeptical of government and forever anti-war.

With Iraq descending back into chaos, the debate over whether or not the US should intervene has reached a fever pitch.

Neo-cons and war hawk interventionists want us to go back. Many so-called moderates think we should return because of the Colin Powell  “you break it, you own it” theory.

One voice you haven’t heard much from is that of Millennials.

Our position is simple: stay out.

A RELIGIOUS DIVIDE

To understand the current crisis plaguing Iraq and the Middle East at large, you must start with religion.

In the Muslim world, the prophet Muhammad is the King of Kings. He is not only credited with founding the religion, but he is also considered the last true prophet of God. The Islamic holy book, the Koran, is believed to be the word of God- or Allah- as spoken to Muhammad.

Upon his death in the year 632, the Islamic religion splintered. Worshippers of the faith disagreed on who should succeed Muhammad and become the new ruler of Islam. As a result of the feud, the religion split in half, creating two competing denominations of Muslims: Sunnis and Shiites.

For going on 1,400 years now, the two factions have been engaged in a brutal civil war. They are not brothers in Islam, but instead arch enemies.

The crisis in Iraq today is the convergence of these two competing forces.

On one side is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS, a fast rising and powerful Sunni terrorist organization so brutal and ruthless that Al Qaeda has denounced them as too extreme.

On the other side is the Iraqi government, led by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki.

This is the backdrop behind which the crisis in Iraq is waged today. What we’re seeing unfold before our very eyes is the apocalyptic judgment day of an ageless religious war.

A GENERATION OF SKEPTICS

So what does the religious war between Sunnis and Shiites have to do with Millennials?

A recent Pew Research poll showed that, unlike the Middle East at large, Millennials are uniquely non-religious.

More closely, one third of Millennials (29%) say that are not affiliated with any religion at all, the highest percentage among any generation on record.

Similarly, only 36% consider themselves a “religious person.”

While Sunnis and Shiites are fighting a holy war waged in God’s honor, only 58% of Millennials say they are “absolutely certain” that God even exists.

In addition to being skeptical of religion, Millennials are also vehemently anti-war.

George W. Bush invaded Iraq while many of us were in middle school. As a result, we learned early on what the blood and carnage of war looks like. We may not have understood it at the time, but we knew we were against it.

In 2008, the first election many of us were old enough to vote in, we turned out in record numbers for Obama mostly because he vowed to get us out of Iraq.

One exit poll from 2008 showed that a whopping 77% of Millennials disapproved of the Iraq War, by far and away the most important single issue for young people.

On a broader scale, this sweeping skepticism of religion and strong belief against war (along with vast support for marriage equality and marijuana legalization) has made Millennials the most liberal generation of Americans since FDR.

And if there’s one thing that liberals hate, it’s war.


NOT OUR FIGHT

Having witnessed first-hand at a very young age the disaster of the Iraq War, Millennials, unlike any other generation of Americans, are fervently against another military engagement in the Middle East. We may be young and devoid of worldly wisdom like our ends, but we also know that after two trillion wasted dollars and 4,500 lives lost it's just not worth it. 

Our opposition is fueled by our anti-war beliefs and aversion to religion. 

We are anti-war because we grew up in an era where body counts in newspaper headlines were as prevalent as weather forecasts. We are largely non-religious because our skepticism of overarching institutions requires us to think for ourselves, not accept the belief of others as gospel. 

It is because of our cynicism of religion and war that we are able to see the situation unfolding in Iraq now for what it is. Our judgment is not clouded by dogma or dollar signs or politics. 

This is a battle between Sunnis and Shiites. They are fighting a religious war that never ends. No amount of money or weapons or American intervention can stop them from killing each other. 

For these reasons (and so many more), we must listen to Millennials and stay out of Iraq. 

US intervention can only serve to fan the sectarian flames. It will do nothing to put them out.