The Iraq War’s Complicated Legacy

One veteran’s reflections on what we got right—and what we got wrong. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. The United States pulled out of Iraq after 23 years at the beginning of October. Most news articles I read ranged from downbeat to pessimistic. I understand why, as the war was a mistake and became unpopular, but the coverage didn’t capture the full picture of what I remember. As an Iraq war veteran myself, I felt relief that no more Americans will be killed there and wonder about what our slain or wounded brothers and sisters’ sacrifices accomplished. Kevin Carroll served as senior counsel to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly (2017-18) and House Homeland Security Committee chairman Peter King (2011-13), and as a CIA and Army officer. More From Kevin Carroll