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The Iraq War
The Iraq War
In 2003, just two years after 9/11, when fear of terrorism and Al-Qaeda was high, Colin Powell addressed the U.N., stating that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Just one month later, American troops were on the ground in Iraq. In the early years, America had a clear target, find the weapons.
At the time, Iraq was controlled by dictator Saddam Hussein. In the first years of the war, American troops found Saddam and captured him.
About half a year later, the Duelfer Report was released, showing that Iraq did not have the WMDs that they were suspected of from the start.
For the next 5 years, America quelled insurgencies and put out fires.
A slide presented to the UN containing proposed evidence of WMDs in Iraq. The aluminum tubes were suspected to be intended for enriching uranium.
(Whitehouse Archives)
American Soldier removing poster of Saddam Hussein
(NPR)
Why did the U.S get involved?
Why did the U.S get involved?
The Iraq war was one of the most confusing and misunderstood wars in American history, with the U.S.'s goal changing throughout. The first operations were built on the falsehood that Iraq had WMDs. While looking for the WMDs, America also toppled Saddam Hussein's dictatorship. After it was confirmed that there were no WMDs and Saddam was captured, a power vacuum formed in Iraq, causing insurgents to revolt that the U.S. needed to stop amidst pressure to not leave Iraq destabilized.
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