US-Iraq/war/invasion

The US-Iraq War justifications invasion occupation exit strategy

the President he's got his war folks don't know just what it's for no one gives us rhyme or reason you have one doubt they call it treason - Roberta Flack, 1969 "Compared to What"

Overview

This page is about the 2003 United States-led invasion of Iraq ordered by George W. Bush and beginning on 2003-03-20, which officially started the US-Iraq War; the invasion phase officially ended on 2003-05-01 with the toppling of Saddam Hussein's government, Iraqi infrastructure in US hands and with Bush's arrival on the USS Abraham Lincoln and the infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner. The US has continued to occupy Iraq despite mounting costs in both dollars and lives and despite growing opposition both within the US and internationally.

Conclusions

The invasion was sold to the citizens of the United States on false pretenses led to the US occupation of Iraq, which has become both a logistical and political quagmire of unprecedented expense.

The one positive effect was to get rid of Saddam, but it should be noted that his rise to power was originally supported by the US. It's fair enough to say "when Saddam went the wrong way, we took him down again -- we keep our house clean", but then why did we stand by and allow him to be executed? Why did we stop short of continuing on to Baghdad during the original Gulf War in 1993, when the citizens there rose up against Saddam at our request and trusting in our promise to keep them safe? It would seem, in the absence of satisfactory answers to these questions, that the US's behavior with respect to Iraq has been substantially less than honorable.

Events

• 2002-10-16 Iraq Resolution: the official "declaration of war" required before military force can be used

Related Pages

• The invasion and occupation of Iraq are part of the Bush administration's "war on terror".
• US justifications for invading Iraq
• Balkans vs. Iraq: a day-and-night comparison of the two interventions

Links

Reference

• Wikipedia:
  • 2003 invasion of Iraq
  • Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
• Anti-War and Militarism News

News

• 2005-07-18 Report: invasion of Iraq provided boost for Al-Qaeda
• 2003-03-31 President Updates America on Operations Liberty Shield and Iraqi Freedom: Remarks by the President at the Port of Philadelphia
• 2003-03-29 President Discusses Iraqi Freedom Progress in Radio Address: Radio Address by the President to the Nation
• 2003-03-23 President Discusses Military Operation: Remarks by the President in Press Availability Upon Return From Camp David
• 2003-03-22 President Discusses Beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom: President's Radio Address
• 2003-03-08 War on Terror: President's Radio Address

Trivia

• "Drat Saddam, a mad dastard!" is a palindrome.