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The Iraq War Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Guide to the Conflict

Brenton Cox

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Published in The Iraq War Encyclopedia Michael Newton

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The Iraq War, also known as the Second Persian Gulf War, was a protracted armed conflict that began in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition that overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein. The invasion began the Iraq War, which lasted until the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011. The war continued as an insurgency and sectarian conflict until the withdrawal of American forces in 2019. The Iraq War was one of the most controversial and consequential military interventions in recent history. It was launched by the United States on the basis of the Bush administration's claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and posed an imminent threat to the United States. However, no WMDs were ever found in Iraq, and the war quickly became unpopular both in the United States and abroad. The war had a profound impact on Iraq, the region, and the world. It led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and destabilized the entire Middle East. The war also cost the United States trillions of dollars and damaged its reputation around the world. <h2>Causes of the War</h2> The Iraq War had its origins in the long-standing conflict between Iraq and the United States. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, which led to the Persian Gulf War. After the war, Iraq was subject to a series of United Nations sanctions that aimed to prevent it from developing WMDs. In 2003, the Bush administration claimed that Iraq possessed WMDs and posed an imminent threat to the United States. This claim was based on a number of intelligence reports, which later turned out to be false. The Bush administration also argued that the war was necessary to spread democracy in the Middle East. They believed that by overthrowing Saddam Hussein, they could create a democratic Iraq that would serve as a model for the rest of the region. <h2>Major Events of the War</h2> The Iraq War began with the invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003. The invasion was led by the United States, but it also included troops from the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries. The invasion was followed by a period of intense fighting, as Iraqi forces resisted the coalition advance. However, the Iraqi army was quickly defeated, and Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, the United States established a new government in Iraq. The new government was led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The United States and its allies also began a process of reconstruction in Iraq. This included rebuilding the country's infrastructure, providing humanitarian aid, and training Iraqi security forces. However, the reconstruction effort was hampered by violence. Insurgent groups, including al-Qaeda, began to attack U.S. and Iraqi forces. The violence also spread to the Iraqi civilian population. The violence in Iraq continued throughout the 2000s. In 2007, the United States sent additional troops to Iraq in an attempt to quell the violence. The additional troops helped to reduce the violence, but it did not end. In 2011, the United States began to withdraw its troops from Iraq. The withdrawal was completed in 2019. <h2>Key Figures</h2> * Saddam Hussein: President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. He was overthrown in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was executed in 2006. * George W. Bush: President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He authorized the invasion of Iraq in 2003. * Nouri al-Maliki: Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014. He led the Iraqi government during the U.S. occupation and the subsequent insurgency. * Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: Leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2006. <h2>Consequences of the War</h2> The Iraq War had a profound impact on Iraq, the region, and the world. **Iraq**: The war led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. It also caused widespread destruction of Iraq's infrastructure and economy. <br> **Region**: The war destabilized the entire Middle East. It led to the rise of sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria. It also contributed to the rise of ISIS. <br> **World**: The war cost the United States trillions of dollars and damaged its reputation around the world. It also raised serious questions about the future of U.S. foreign policy. The Iraq War was a tragedy. It led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and destabilized the entire Middle East. The war also cost the United States trillions of dollars and damaged its reputation around the world. The Iraq War is a reminder of the dangers of war. It is also a reminder of the importance of diplomacy and peace.</body></html>