9/11 – Invasion of Iraq

1. 9/11 – Invasion of Iraq Political tensions after 9/11 led to war with Iraq (and other countries in the Middle East) 2003 – present Costs more than $700+ billion, 4,000+ American lives, and 100,000+ Iraqi lives. Iraq was considered dangerous before 9/11 Political climate after 9/11 merely influenced the decision to go to war. Media and politicians in favor and opposition of the war carefully constructed their arguments.

2. History with Iraq prior to 9/11 • 1979 – Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq. • Suppressed political groups who opposed him (brutal/cruel dictator) • Nationalized the country’s important oil industry – government control rather than private. • 1980s – U.S. gave military and financial support to Saddam while Iraq was at war with Iran. • Saddam executed his political opponents and began a campaign of genocide (destruction of an entire ethnic group) against the Kurdish population in northern Iraq.

3. History continued… • 1990 – Iraq invaded Kuwait (claiming it was historically part of Iraq) • Gulf War of 1991 – U.S. and a coalition of many countries (many Middle Eastern/Arabic) drove Iraq out of Kuwait. • Saddam remained in control but had to agree to end Iraq’s weapon programs – including poison gas and biological weapons.

4. History continued. • 1990s – Iraq stopped cooperating with the United Nations (UN) weapons inspectors. • Iraq was suspected of starting new weapons programs and developing gas and biological weapons along with nuclear weapons. • American forces increased military operations, including “no fly zones” over Iraq, preventing Iraq’s military from operating. • 2000 – Saddam refused to allow UN weapons inspectors to work in the country • Led to more suspicion of Iraq’s development of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

5. George W. Bush elected in 2001 • Plans were already being made to force Iraq to comply with the weapons inspectors. • Remove Saddam (by force if necessary) • 9/11 terrorist attacks led to an escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Arab nations. • U.S. focus shifted to fighting Islamic terrorists (Saddam and his political group were NOT extremists, like al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden) • Saddam was an infidel and enemy of bin Laden.

6. Continued • U.S. responded to 9/11 by attacking Afghanistan, whose government supported al-Qaeda • Al-Qaeda training camps developed in Afghanistan. • Although far removed from Afghanistan, U.S. government advisors thought the time was also right to remove Saddam from power. • Debates developed within the government, in the media, and among the people.

7. Review Questions • Why did the U.S. think Iraq was dangerous even before 9/11? • How do you think the events of 9/11 might have complicated the question of what to do about Iraq?

8. 9/11 – Invasion Timeline • After 9/11 the country was ready to accept war and supported attacks on al-Qaeda (Afghanistan) • 2001: American government made a case for war against Iraq – characterize Hussein as a terrorist (anyone who develops WMD) • 2002: Iraq, Iran, and North Korea = “axis of evil”

9. Timeline continued… • Arab nations did not support military actions against Iraq (unlike the first Gulf War when they joined the international coalition). • Arab League (organization of Middle Eastern and North African nations) • Beirut Declaration: • 1) calling for Iraq to comply with UN weapons inspections • 2) demanding that the international community lift economic sanctions against Iraq • 3) warned that an attack on all Arab countries would escalate Arab and U.S. tensions.

10. Timeline continued… • Iraq rejected new UN weapons inspection efforts • Bush said military action would be unavoidable if Iraq did not comply. • “Bush Doctrine”: U.S. had the right to launch a pre-emptive attack on a foreign country in order to prevent that country from attacking the United States first • Prior to this, war was considered a last resort after being attacked (new foreign policy)

11. Timeline continued… • Joint resolution of Congress authorized Bush to use military force in Iraq if necessary to defend national security and to enforce UN resolutions. • UN resolution 1441: gave Iraq one final opportunity to comply with disarmament – inspections resumed. • Hans Blix (head of the UN inspection commission) found NO evidence of WMDs in Iraq – they were cooperating with the UN, but more time was needed to verify if any weapons did not exist. • Bush rejected the call for more time and threatened force without immediate disarmament. • Colin Powell (Secretary of State) presented evidence linking Iraq to terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons.

12. Timeline continued… • UN withdrew inspectors and staff and the U.S. published a list of 30 countries (“coalition of the willing”) who agreed to provide troops, logistical support or help with postwar reconstruction. • U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia provided major military support. • March 19, 2003 – military campaign began.

13. Media Messages • After 9/11, distrust of Arab nations led many people to believe that the invasion of Iraq was part of a “war on terrorism”. • Had to convince the American people that Saddam was a terrorist and a danger to the U.S. in developing WMDs. • No evidence that Iraq had WMDs or any connection to Islamic terrorists was found… • Opponents of the war said that the U.S. really wanted to control Iraq’s oil supply to benefit American and European oil companies – downplaying the brutality and potential dangers of Saddam’s dictatorship in the Middle East. • During the buildup of war, those in favor of and against war used the facts selectively to create their arguments.