The Iraq War Explained
Summary
TLDRThe video script recounts the controversial Iraq War, detailing its causes, key events, and aftermath. It begins with the U.S. invasion in 2003, justified by the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction, and Saddam Hussein's capture. The script then describes the rise of insurgency, the surge of troops, and the eventual withdrawal of American forces in 2011. It highlights the war's disastrous consequences, including the emergence of ISIS and the long-term destabilization of Iraq and the region, leaving a legacy of distrust and skepticism towards war among the American public.
Takeaways
- 🏠 The video script is a personal narrative starting from the creator's own experience of learning about the Iraq invasion while living in an apartment complex.
- 📺 The Iraq War began on March 19, 2003, with the U.S. citing the need to disarm Iraq and free its people from Saddam Hussein's regime, which was accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
- 🌍 The invasion was controversial, with many questioning its justification and the U.S.'s motives, including the linking of Iraq to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, despite no direct connection.
- 🗓️ Prior to the invasion, the U.S. had supported efforts to remove Saddam Hussein from power, including passing the Iraq Liberation Act and conducting Operation Desert Fox.
- 🔍 Despite extensive inspections by the UN, no WMDs were found in Iraq, leading to accusations that the Bush administration was pushing for war without sufficient evidence.
- 💥 The initial invasion was swift, with U.S. and coalition forces taking control of Iraq's major cities within weeks, but it was the beginning of a longer conflict.
- 🕊️ President Bush's 'Mission Accomplished' speech on May 1, 2003, was seen as premature, as the war continued for years after and the situation in Iraq deteriorated.
- 🔄 The capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 did not end the conflict; instead, it marked the rise of insurgent attacks and sectarian violence within Iraq.
- 📉 The Iraq War had a significant impact on American public opinion, eroding trust in government and leading to a general aversion to similar conflicts in the future.
- 🌐 The war's aftermath included a power vacuum that allowed for the rise of ISIS, leading to further conflict and the need for international military involvement.
- 📊 The Iraq War is considered a costly and devastating event, with over a million deaths, massive displacement of people, and long-term destabilization of the region.
Q & A
What significant event did Mr. Beat experience in the apartment complex mentioned in the script?
-Mr. Beat found out about the United States' invasion of Iraq while living in the apartment complex during his college years.
What was the date when the United States and Coalition forces initiated military operations in Iraq?
-The United States and Coalition forces began military operations in Iraq on March 19, 2003.
Why was Saddam Hussein considered a threat by the United States?
-Saddam Hussein was considered a threat due to his history of using chemical weapons against his own citizens, his invasion of a neighboring country, and accusations of developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
What was the Iraq Liberation Act, and what did it call for?
-The Iraq Liberation Act was a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton, which called for efforts to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.
How did the 9/11 terrorist attacks influence the Bush Administration's view on Iraq?
-The 9/11 terrorist attacks led the Bush Administration to link Iraq with terrorism, seeking an excuse to invade Iraq under the broader 'War on Terrorism,' despite no direct connection between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks.
What was the main goal of the eight objectives outlined by General Tommy Franks for Operation Iraqi Freedom?
-The main goal was to take out Saddam Hussein and his regime, along with finding and eliminating Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction, and supporting the transition to a representative democracy in Iraq.
Why did President Bush's 'Mission Accomplished' speech become controversial?
-The 'Mission Accomplished' speech became controversial because it was perceived as prematurely declaring victory, as the war and its aftermath continued for years, and the situation in Iraq did not stabilize as implied.
What was the impact of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal on the Iraq War?
-The Abu Ghraib prison scandal, where American soldiers were found torturing Iraqi prisoners, led to a surge of Islamist militants into Baghdad and increased anti-American sentiment, exacerbating the insurgency.
What was the 'Surge' strategy implemented by President Bush in 2007?
-The 'Surge' strategy involved sending an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq and extending deployments by 3 months, aiming to restore security and reduce insurgent attacks.
How did the Iraq War contribute to the rise of ISIS?
-The Iraq War destabilized the region, creating a power vacuum after American troops left. This allowed for the rise of extremist groups, including ISIS, which took control of significant areas in Iraq and contributed to another conflict.
What has been the long-term impact of the Iraq War on American public opinion and foreign policy?
-The Iraq War eroded American trust in government, made the public wary of wars in general, and influenced foreign policy to be more cautious about engaging in military interventions under similar pretexts.
Outlines
🏠 Personal Reflection on the Iraq War's Start
The script begins with a personal account of the narrator's experience learning about the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 while at college. It captures the initial shock and the emotional response to President Bush's announcement of military operations to disarm Iraq, along with the public's mixed reactions to the war. The narrator sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the Iraq War, promising to set aside personal biases to recount the events and causes leading up to the conflict.
🔍 The Path to War: Justifications and Accusations
This paragraph delves into the historical context and the political motivations behind the Iraq War. It outlines the portrayal of Saddam Hussein as a ruthless dictator, the U.S. efforts to remove him from power, and the events following 9/11 that led to the 'War on Terrorism.' The narrative focuses on the Bush administration's attempts to link Iraq to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, despite a lack of concrete evidence. It also touches on the public's divided opinion on the war's legitimacy and the political pressure that culminated in the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution.
🌍 International Relations and the Push for Invasion
The script describes the international diplomatic efforts and the build-up to the invasion of Iraq. It highlights the role of key U.S. officials like Colin Powell in making the case for war at the United Nations, the skepticism from figures like Hans Blix, and the challenges faced in gaining international support. The paragraph also details the formation of the 'coalition of the willing' and the initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, emphasizing the unilateral nature of the U.S.-led invasion.
🛡️ The Invasion and Initial Occupation of Iraq
This section provides an overview of the military strategy and objectives of the U.S.-led invasion, including the surprise attack on Baghdad and the swift advance of American and British forces. It outlines the goals set by General Tommy Franks, the initial success in taking over key Iraqi cities, and the declaration of the end of major combat operations. The paragraph also touches on the symbolic 'Mission Accomplished' speech by President Bush, which would later become controversial.
💥 The Emergence of Insurgency and Internal Conflict
The script discusses the transition from invasion to occupation and the rise of insurgency within Iraq. It details the initial resistance from Saddam Hussein's loyalists, the involvement of Islamist extremists, and the capture of Hussein himself. The narrative also covers the growing unrest due to the American presence, the escalation of violence, and the impact of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal on the conflict. Additionally, it explains the sectarian divisions between Sunnis and Shiites and the beginning of a cycle of violence within Iraq.
🔄 The Surge, Sectarian Violence, and Political Struggles
This paragraph focuses on the escalation of violence and the U.S. military's response, known as the Surge, which involved an increase in troop numbers. It discusses the impact of sectarian violence, particularly in Sunni-dominated areas, and the involvement of al-Qaeda in Iraq for the first time. The script also covers the political struggles within Iraq, including the drafting of a new constitution and the challenges of establishing a representative democracy amidst the ongoing conflict.
🏹 The Resurgence of Insurgency and the Rise of ISIS
The script describes the aftermath of the American withdrawal from Iraq, leading to a power vacuum and the resurgence of insurgency. It details the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and the subsequent conflict that required international intervention to support the Iraqi government. The paragraph also reflects on the ongoing presence of American soldiers in Iraq and the complex legacy of the Iraq War, including its human and financial costs, and its impact on international relations and the perception of war among the American public.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Iraq War
💡Saddam Hussein
💡Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
💡Insurgency
💡Operation Desert Fox
💡9/11 Attacks
💡Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)
💡Coalition of the Willing
💡Mission Accomplished
💡Sunni and Shiite
💡General David Petraeus
Highlights
Introduction of the Iraq War's context and personal reflection by Mr. Beat.
Background on Saddam Hussein's regime and the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998.
Link between the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the decision to invade Iraq.
The role of key Bush administration officials in advocating for war.
Diplomatic efforts and UN inspections leading up to the invasion.
Colin Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council justifying the war.
Divergent views on the war's justification among the American public.
Operation Iraqi Freedom's commencement and the initial invasion strategy.
The rapid fall of Baghdad and the end of major combat operations.
President Bush's 'Mission Accomplished' speech and its implications.
The rise of the insurgency following the declaration of victory.
Capture of Saddam Hussein and the subsequent trial and execution.
Escalation of violence and the impact of the Abu Ghraib scandal.
The sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites within Iraq.
The 'Surge' strategy and General David Petraeus's leadership.
Public opinion and the political impact of the war on the U.S.
The withdrawal of U.S. troops and the subsequent rise of ISIS.
The long-term consequences and legacy of the Iraq War.
Personal conclusion and call to action for further research on the Iraq War.
Transcripts
What’s disastrous?
I’m Mr. Beat
You may be wondering, why am I hanging out at some random apartment complex? Well, this apartment
complex isn’t random. It’s where I lived when I found out that the United States had invaded Iraq.
I was in college at the time. On March 19, 2003, I remember coming home after
a long day at both class and work, and turning on the TV to see this…
my fellow citizen at this hour American and Coalition forces
are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq to free its
people and to defend the world from grave danger and I saw footage like
this and reports like this it was just over 90 minutes Beyond President Bush's deadline
for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq that us warships and planes launched the opening
Salvo of operation Iraqi freedom and I remember being filled with anger and frustration why was
my government doing this wasn't this an unjust War well I wasn't the only
one who felt this way we live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for
fictitious reasons we are against this war Mr. Bush shame on you Mr Bush shame on you
and anytime you've got the pop and the Dixie Chicks against you your time is up thank you
But as you could hear from the boos from those Hollywood actors in the audience at the Oscars,
many Americans thought this war was JUST. Meaning it was…ok.
So you know my bias, as you should know my bias, but in this video,
I’m going to try very hard to IGNORE my bias to tell the story of one of
the most controversial wars in American history, The Iraq War.
-Causes of the Iraq War- It’s 1998. The country of Iraq is headed by a
ruthless dictator named Saddam Hussein. A ruthless dictator infamously known for killing as many
as 250,000 of his own citizens, sometimes using chemical weapons to do so. A ruthless dictator who
had invaded a smaller country to the south in what became known as The Persian Gulf War. (sing) I got
a video about that! Yeah, Hussein was not a nice dude, and by 1998, the United States was
actively supporting efforts to remove him from power. Heck, the United States Congress even
passed a law that President Bill Clinton signed (Iraq Liberation Act) calling for just that.
After the United States accused Hussein of developing weapons of mass destruction and
after he refused to let the United Nations look for them, Clinton ordered Operation Desert Fox,
which led to the American military dropping bombs on approximately 100
military sites around Iraq, killing or wounding as many as 1400 Iraqis.
Flash forward to September 11, 2001, the day of the deadliest attack on American
soil and the deadliest terrorist attack in world history ever. I made a whole video about 9/11,
as it’s more commonly called, but the gist of it is that terrorists associated with al-Qaeda
hijacked four planes with the goal of crashing them into four prominent American buildings.
They crashed two into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon,
ultimately killing nearly 3,000 people. In an attempt to hunt down those responsible for 9/11,
the United States government invaded Afghanistan and fought a war there for 20 years. But it wasn’t
just Afghanistan that the United States sent troops. Oh no. With the Authorization for Use
of Military Force, Congress gave President George W. Bush the power to fight terrorism ALL OVER THE
WORLD. In fact, the country has been fighting the so-called “War on Terrorism” ever since.
So what does 9/11 have to do with Iraq? Well nothing.
But MANY in the Bush Administration wanted to link the two. In fact, they had been looking for
an excuse to invade Iraq for YEARS, and perhaps 9/11 was their chance. One of the loudest voices
to link 9/11 with Saddam Hussein was a dude named Paul Wolfowitz, who served as the U.S. Deputy
Secretary of Defense at the time. He argued that Hussein was helping terrorists around the world,
and basically said that taking HIM out would go far in ending terrorism around the world.
Wolfowitz even compared Hussein to the head of a snake. “It’s almost like cutting off the
head of the snake, and the rest of the body will go.” It wasn’t just Wolfowitz. His boss,
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, also was hoping this new War on Terrorism would
give them a chance to take out Hussein. He began going around telling the press stuff like this:
they weaponized chemical weapons we know that they've had an active program to develop nuclear
weapons they uh it's also clear that they are actively developing biological weapons I don't
know what other kinds of weapons would fall under the rubric of weapons of mass destruction but but
if there are more I suspect they're working on them as well even though I don't have to know
what they are in this the big thing that was there was the weapon of mass destruction issue
and he had agreed and the UN had agreed that they would he would not have a wmd program we
know he does have one and he is continuing it soon Vice President Dick Cheney was sounding the alarm
about Hussein simply stated there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction
there is no doubt that he is amassing them to use them against our friends against our allies
and against us oh there was plenty of Doubt but sheney also was really wanting to go to war with
Iraq and finally the president himself was now sounding the alarm about Hussein pleading his
case to the American people directly I take the fact that he develops weapons of mass destruction
very seriously I remember the fact that he has invaded two countries before I know for a fact
that he's poisoned his own people the regime must allow witnesses to its illegal activities
to be interviewed outside of the country these Witnesses must be free to bring their entire
families with them so they're beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein's Terror Saddam Hussein's
torture Saddam Hussein's murder in addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of
mass destruction C Iraq in accordance with un Security Council demands must end its support
for terrorism heck as early as January 29th 2002 during his State of the Union Address
he was talking trash Iraq continues to flaun its hostility toward America and to support Terror the
Iraqi regime has plotted to develop Anthrax and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a decade
I mean it’s no surprise, really,
that President Bush wanted to take out Saddam Hussein. Bush had hated Hussein for years,
especially after Hussein threatened and possibly even planned to kill his dad, George Bush, Sr.
Anyway, and just so we’re clear here…even though they had absolutely no evidence to back this up,
the Bush administration just kept arguing that Hussein not only had weapons of mass destruction,
but was giving these weapons of mass destruction to terrorists to attack the United States again.
Well, this fear mongering freaked Americans out, for sure.
Including members of Congress. Intelligence reports show that
Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock his
missile delivery capability and his nuclear program he has also
given Aid comfort and Sanctuary to terrorists including Al-Qaeda members
In October 2002, Congress passed the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution,
which said that President Bush could send troops into Iraq to take out Hussein’s
government if needed. That said, the law also “encouraged” diplomacy first,
saying that the Bush administration should work with the United Nations
to see if Hussein would hand over weapons of mass destruction before invading. It’s worth
noting that most Americans wanted diplomacy to be continued before any kind of invasion.
Still, the British government and even the United States Department of Defense found
hardly any evidence of the development of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
At this point, there’s quite a bit of evidence that shows Bush was gonna invade Iraq whether
his administration found weapons of mass destruction there or not. Still,
it’d be nice to at least get the United Nations on board with it, amirite?
In November 2002, the United Nations sent weapons inspectors to Iraq but
they ultimately never found any, even after around 700 inspections, man.
And yet, on February 5, 2003, the well-respected Secretary of State,
Colin Powell, who also happened to be a general during the Persian Gulf War,
made his case for invading Iraq to the United Nations Security Council.
The facts and Iraq's Behavior show that Saddam Hussein and his regime are concealing
their efforts to produce more weapons of mass destruction Saddam Hussein has no compunction
about using them again against his neighbors and against his own people and we have sources
who tell us that he recently has authorized his field commanders to use them he wouldn't
be passing out the orders if he didn't have the weapons or the intent to use them
However, Hans Blix, the dude in charge of the weapons inspections of Iraq,
accused Powell and the entire Bush administration, for that matter,
of beating the war drums without sufficient evidence. The CIA even investigated Blix in
an apparent attempt to undermine him since he was hurting support for an invasion.
By March, even though UN inspections were still ongoing and despite the fact that anti-war
protests were building around the world, the United States prepared for an invasion
anyway. Many of the world’s most powerful countries were against an invasion. Still,
the Bush administration was able to put together a multi-national force of at least 48 countries to
help them overthrow Hussein. Together, they were known as a “coalition of the willing.” In reality,
most of these countries had little power and would contribute little to the war effort. Indeed,
unlike the Persian Gulf War that happened just over 12 years prior, this was mainly a unilateral
effort. Sure, the United Kingdom helped out quite a bit, but this invasion would mainly
just be by American forces. Heck, even the pope was like, “yo dudes you sure you want to do this?”
Regardless, what became known as Operation Iraqi Freedom began on
March 19, 2003 when the United States began bombing Baghdad,
Iraq’s capital. Two days later, American and British troops invaded southern Iraq.
-What went down in the Iraq War- The invasion of Iraq lasted just over a month.
As I said like a minute ago, it started with airstrikes on Iraqi military bases
and the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. It was a surprise attack. There was no declaration of war
or anything like that. According to Tommy Franks, the general who led the invasion,
Operation Iraqi Freedom had eight goals: Taking out Saddam Hussein
Finding and getting rid of Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction
Looking for and getting rid of terrorists in the country
Well that could, uh…take a while, couldn’t it?
Gathering intelligence to destroy global terrorist networks
Gathering intelligence to find weapons of mass destruction around the world
Ending sanctions and getting humanitarian support to Iraqi citizens presumably hurt
under Hussein’s control Securing Iraq’s oil fields
Ok ok ok. I know what’ you’re thinking, but Franks said that American troops would secure this oil
for the Iraqi people…(shrugs) I don’t know And finally…
Helping the Iraqi people transition to a representative democracy
Approximately 160,000 troops, again mostly American and British troops, landed in
southern Iraq beginning on March 21, 2003. They met little resistance. Only Hussein’s most loyal
supporters fought back, many of them fighting back in Basra. Still, the Americans and British fairly
easily defeated them and soon worked their way northwest, up through the Tigris-Euphrates river
system toward Baghdad, skipping over areas where resistance was stronger. By April 4,
American forces had taken over Baghdad’s international airport. Iraq’s Republican
Guard defended Baghdad, but its defense was very disorganized. American forces bombarded and raided
the city in what became known as the Battle of Baghdad. By April 9, American soldiers had already
taken control of the city. Kurdish fighters from the north helped the Ameicans capture the northern
Iraqi cities of Kirkuk and Mosul by April 11. And finally, Saddam’s home city of Tikrīt fell
on April 13. Isolated groups of soldiers loyal to Hussein continued to fight in the following days,
but by the end of the month the United States had controlled basically most of Iraq. The initial
invasion cost the lives of nearly 13,000 Iraqis and just 172 coalition soldiers.
On May 1, 2003, President Bush made his now infamous, televised “Mission
Accomplished speech” aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, just off the coast of San Diego. In
case you were wondering, San Diego is on the opposite side of the world as Iraq.
major combat operations in Iraq have ended in the Battle of Iraq the United States and our
allies have [Applause] prevailed now I know this speech has become a meme at this point
you know it basically comes up anytime anyone declares Victory too early in a crisis but it's
worth noting that bush also said the following in this speech we have difficult work to do in
Iraq and boy was that an understatement little did Bush know that this war would go on for
the next 8 years meanwhile Saddam Hussein and his inner circle had gone into hiding
we thought the war was over and we celebrated and we'd won the war eaten ice cream and I thought
they would hate us but they didn't you know they didn't start hating us until we stayed
If the coalition forces had just left on May 1st, perhaps this war wouldn’t have been so
controversial. One Gallup poll found that 79% of Americans thought the war had been justified,
with or WITHOUT clear evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
And yet, the Americans stayed…the insurgency portion of the war had now begun.
An insurgent is a person who revolts against a government or authority. Soon after Bush
declared victory on May 1, 2003, the first, armed insurgents began to attack American soldiers. In
the beginning, these insurgents were just Saddam Hussein loyalists refusing to surrender. However,
soon the insurgents were Islamist extremists seeing the overthrow of Hussein as an opportunity
to create an Islamist government. Oh hey speaking of Hussein, American forces were
soon closing in on him. They had killed his sons Uday and Qusay in a shootout in Mosul,
as well as killed or captured at least 300 of his top leaders in his government. On December 13,
2003, they found Hussein hiding on a farm just outside Tikrit. He surrendered and
the new Iraqi government found him guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced
him to death by hanging. You can watch the footage of it online. I’m not even joking.
Anyway, even though American forces had captured Hussein, insurgency was on the rise, and now
many of the insurgents were Iraqis mad about the occupying forces refusing to leave. Kidnappings,
murders, car bombs, suicide bombings, and highway blasts caused by improvised explosive devices,
or IEDs, became much more common and increasingly put the lives of American soldiers at risk. Things
got worse in April 2004, when word got out about American soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners at
Abu Ghraib prison. This led to a flood of Islamist militants into Baghdad. And talk about bad timing.
This all went down when the American military was trying to prop up a new Iraqi government.
Meanwhile, the Iraq War hadn’t hurt President
Bush’s popularity too much…yet. He’d win re-election in 2004.
But if Americans knew how bad the war would get over the next two years,
he likely would not have gotten re-elected.
In 2005, millions of Iraqis voted to draft a new constitution and
vote for new representatives and a president. But uh…that didn’t go so
well. Sunnis boycotted the elections, resulting in the Shiites gaining power.
Oh wait, you may not know what the words “Sunni” and
“Shiite” mean. Oh crap. I guess I’d better explain what they mean, eh?
Sunni Islam is just a branch of Islam, the largest branch of Islam, as a matter of fact.
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch. Iraq is unique in that the country has a fairly even
divide between Shiites and Sunnis within its borders. One big development during the Iraq
War was actually a smaller conflict within a bigger one- radicalized Iraqi Shiites and
Iraqi Sunnis began attacking each other. Sunnis accused Shitte leaders of killing Sunni leaders
and blowing up bombs in Sunni neighborhoods. Sunnis retaliated, and the cycle of violence
spiraled out of control, especially after the bombing of the al-Askari Shrine on February 22,
2006. At one point Baghdad became so violent that it averaged around 33 deaths a day.
Most of the violence, though, was based in the Sunni-dominated areas of Iraq,
particularly in the provinces of Al Anbar and Saladin. By the end of 2006, all of this violence
and destruction had led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of ordinary Iraqis.
One spot where insurgents were particularly active during the
Iraq War was Ramadi, in the Al Anbar province.
For six months in 2006, American forces fought al-Qaeda in the city in what became known as the
Battle of Ramadi. Uhhh yeah. You heard that right. Al-Qaeda. One particularly crazy development that
happened during the war was al-Qaeda showing up to Iraq for the first time. Yep. They weren’t there
before, and no links were ever found between the Hussein regime and al-Qaeda, but after the
overthrow of the Hussein regime and after American occupation not only are they there but they be
recruiting. Oh, and THEY also now had Saddam’s old chemical weapons from back in the day.
Now that al-Qaeda was actually IN Iraq, President Bush was like,
well uh…maybe we should send MORE troops eh?
And that’s exactly what happened. In January 2007, Bush announced plans for a Surge. No, not
the soda pop. A surge, as in a quick increase in the number of American troops in Iraq to restore
security there. He sent 30,000 additional troops and extended deployments by 3 months. Well, 2007
ended up being the deadliest year for American forces since 2004, but stability did follow and
insurgent attacks went down afterward, though it’s not clear if it was because of the surge or not.
On February 10, 2007, General David Petraeus took over as leader of the coalition forces. His
leadership had been one of the few success stories during the war, much of it centered around his
focus on rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and redirecting funding directly to Iraqis.
Still, by 2008, most Americans were done with this war.
Polls now showed that a clear majority of Americans were against it and wanted the
troops home. And not only did the war hurt the popularity of George W. Bush,
but it hurt the popularity of the entire Republican Party. Barack Obama won the
presidential election of 2008, in fact, promising to end the Iraq War. That said, around that time,
the Iraqi parliament had already established a timetable to withdraw American forces. In
February 2009, the newly-elected President Obama said all American combat forces would
be out of Iraq by August 31, 2010. Well, this happened two weeks ahead of schedule.
I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended operation Iraqi
freedom is over and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country
That said, around 50,000 American soldiers
remained in Iraq to help with the Iraqi military fully taking over.
By that time, the whistleblower media organization WikiLeaks had released footage of what became
known as the July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike. The video, which WikiLeaks called Collateral Murder,
showed American troops aboard an Apache helicopter firing on and killing journalists
and other civilians. This footage, as well as 400,000 secret American military documents
from the war released by WikiLeaks later on that year, further turned Americans against the war.
In October 2011, President Obama announced that the last 39,000 American soldiers in
Iraq would leave the country by the end of 2011.
And I wish that was the end of the story, but it’s not.
You see, almost as soon as American troops left, a power vacuum happened and insurgency once
again went on the rise in Iraq. Sunni extremists stepped up attacks against the Shiite majority,
and soon many of them teamed up with Islamist extremists in Syria,
a country bordering Iraq to the north which had its own civil war going on.
Well, long story short, this all ultimately led to ANOTHER FREAKING WAR.
That’s right. The Iraq War led to the War in Iraq.
By December 30, 2013, the insurgency had turned into all-out guerrilla warfare all across western
Iraq with the rise of the Islamic State, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,
aka the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, aka ISIS. By the end of 2015,
ISIS controlled an area where millions of Iraqis lived. The Iraqi government
eventually defeated them by 2019, but only after coalition forces returned to aid them.
In fact, today, and I bet you didn’t know this,
there are still around 2,500 American soldiers stationed in Iraq to assist Iraqi soldiers there.
-The legacy of the Iraq War-
By most accounts, the Iraq War was a disaster.
Likely at least a million people died directly because of it. It led to the displacement of
millions of Iraqis. It cost TRILLIONS of dollars. Not billions. TRILLIONS. It led to one of the
biggest humanitarian crises in modern history, and today the Iraqis are still recovering from
its devastation, although, to be fair, things are WAY better there than they used to be.
Similar to the Vietnam War which happened 30 years prior,
The Iraq War further eroded American trust in their government. Today most of us view
it as an unnecessary war…a war that just made things worse for everyone involved.
By invading and conquering Iraq in 2003 and then occupying it for nine years after that,
the United States ended up destabilizing not only the entire country, but the entire
freaking region. Before the war, there was no proven connection between the Iraqi government
and al-Qaeda. And yet, this war was so disastrous that it literally…ironically,
you could say…CAUSED al-Qaeda to take over major parts of Iraq. Holy crap.
The Iraq War hurt the international reputation of not only the United
States but also the United Kingdom. It hurt global efforts to fight terrorism.
Heck, the Iraq War made the majority of Americans sick of wars in general. After that,
when the American government tried to drum up support for war in a foreign country in
the name of “spreading democracy” or “nation building,” most Americans just didn’t fall
for it anymore. And not just Democrats. I’d argue that just as many Republicans today
say the Iraq War was a mistake as Democrats, as demonstrated by the rise of Donald Trump,
who has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with that war.
But perhaps that’s one silver lining of the Iraq War. Before it,
we were just more likely to fall for an unjust war. After it, we weren’t.
In 2003, when I lived in these apartments, I was young and an idiot. (turning to look back) But
even back then I knew this war was unjust. Ok well, for the record I’m still an idiot.
Obviously, I left a lot out, and as always, I encourage you to research The Iraq War further.
I’ve listed some sources in the description. Again, I’m biased. I lived during the Iraq War.
I have family and friends who were actually IN the Iraq War. Obviously I’m gonna have
an opinion about it. Anyway, I did the best I could. I appreciate you watching. Bye bye now.
Bye bye
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