Overview of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom was a military operation launched by the United States and its coalition affiliates to remove Saddam Hussein’s regime from power in Iraq. It was launched on March 20, 2003, and lasted over eight years until the sanctioned end of combat operations on August 31, 2010 (Gregg, 2023). The operation involved a ground invasion of Iraq by the US and different forces, supported by air and nonmilitary operations. The pretensions of the operation included the elimination of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, the establishment of a new government in Iraq, and the defeat of terrorism.
Operation Iraqi Freedom began on March 20, 2003, with a surprise attack by the US and forces on crucial targets in Baghdad (Stubbs, 2021). The operation was launched under the authority of President George W. Bush, who cited the trouble posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and its alleged ties to Al-Qaeda as reasons for the invasion (Cotter, 2019). The operation was controversial domestically and internationally, with some countries strongly opposing the war.
Motives Behind the Invasion
The motives referred to with the aid of using the Bush administration for going to battle with Iraq were Iraq’s alleged ownership of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), connections between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, and human rights abuses with the aid of using Saddam Hussein’s regime. The Bush administration argued that Iraq posed a threat to the US country-wide safety and the global community and that Saddam Hussein became a destabilizing force within the region. The Bush administration claimed that Iraq possessed WMDs, such as chemical, biological, and nuclear, and that those posed a threat to America and its allies (Gregg, 2023).
The claims have been based on intelligence reviews and statements from defectors. However, those claims were later discovered to be fake, and no WMDs were discovered in Iraq (Gregg, 2023). The Bush administration additionally claimed that there had been links between Iraq and Al-Qaeda and that Saddam Hussein was supplying aid to terrorist organizations (Cotter, 2019). Some proof recommended that there has been contact between Iraq and Al-Qaeda; however, there has been no proof of direct cooperation or collaboration.
Pre-War Intelligence and International Response
In early 2003, American intelligence agencies reported that, according to their information, some weapons of mass destruction were being developed in the country. At the same time, the American administration actively promoted the idea that Saddam Hussein’s regime threatened the whole world. These reasons were enough to start a full-scale war.
By the way, no evidence of the development of secret weapons and the ties of the Iraqi government with terrorist organizations has been revealed (Cotter, 2019). In March 2003, the leaders of Germany, France, and Russia opposed the invasion of Iraq, but this did not stop the Americans. By then, they had transferred many army units to these territories (Gregg, 2023). By this time, George W. Bush’s rhetoric had already formed a stable expression of the “Axis of Evil,” which, in addition to Iraq, also included North Korea and Iran.
Military Campaign and Initial Successes
The attack on Iraq began from Kuwait — it was there that American troops crossed the state border. First of all, the US army targeted the most critical military infrastructure facilities, including those close to the country’s capital, Baghdad. Thanks to technological superiority, the American military was in the suburbs of Baghdad within two weeks, and on April 8, the Iraqi army stopped resisting the invaders (Cotter, 2019).
Baghdad was taken virtually without a fight: many American TV channels showed live how the statue of Saddam Hussein was being demolished there. In less than a month, American troops could suppress the resistance. Already on April 14, 2003, they entered Tikrit, the hometown of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (Gregg, 2023). Active military operations ended there: the Iraqi military suffered a crushing defeat. On May 1, US President George W. Bush officially announced the end of the military campaign.
Immediate Consequences of the Invasion
In addition to numerous human casualties, the country’s infrastructure, including vital communications, was destroyed due to the war, and Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. Although on May 1, 2003, President J. Bush announced the end of hostilities and the beginning of military occupation (Cotter, 2019). The destruction of the Iraqi armed forces and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein were only the beginning of a protracted conflict – almost immediately, a guerrilla war began in the country. The summer of 2003 was the period of the birth of organized groups, which first consisted mainly of Ba’ath Party activists and supporters of Saddam Hussein (Gregg, 2023). These groups seized a large number of weapons and ammunition in the warehouses of the former Iraqi army during the anarchy that prevailed in the first weeks after the overthrow of the regime.
Geostrategic and Military Outcomes
The primary outcome of Operation Freedom for Iraq has geostrategic significance. The United States has expanded its strategic foothold to further advance in this region. Militarily, the tendency to increase the role of the Air Force and Navy, intelligence, and precision weapons in achieving the operation’s objectives has been confirmed (Stubbs, 2021). A qualitatively new stage in developing high-precision systems has become the implementation of the joint and interconnected time and space application of space, air, sea, and ground reconnaissance and destruction means integrated into a single system(Stubbs, 2021). The results of the military operations in Iraq directly impacted the content of the main programs for constructing the US armed forces.
Insurgency and Government Formation
Perhaps the greatest challenge in post-war Iraq was the rise of guerrilla brutality and insurgency. After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s system, Iraq was gripped by anger and self-doubt as various factions vied for power and influence. This included attacks by Sunni and Shiite civilian armies and the strengthening of radical groups such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Another significant test in post-war Iraq was forming a stable and robust Government. The Iraqi government was first established in 2005, but it faced many difficulties in building a good foundation for itself and enlisted the help of the Iraqi public (Gregg, 2023). The state power also suffered from humiliation and various problems, making it difficult to control the nation (Cotter, 2019). The conflict in Iraq also led to the government needing large-scale recreational activities. This included reconstructing foundations, such as streets and scaffolding, and providing essential assistance to Iraqi residents, such as electricity and clean water.
Media Coverage and Public Perception
The media took on a significant role in covering the Iraq conflict, and observers worldwide provided detailed information about this conflict. This included the inclusion of a tactical mission, as well as the impact of the competition on ordinary Iraqis and American soldiers. The media additionally covered the political and discretionary sides of the conflict, for example, banners about the decision to wage war and attempts to remake Iraq after the conflict (Gregg, 2023).
One of the essential elements of media coverage of the Iraq War was the use of full-time columnists. The implanted writers were journalists who were granted admission to military units and allowed to accompany them during the conflict (Cotter, 2019). This gave the authors a remarkable point of view on the claim. However, it also raised concerns about the objectivity of their disclosure and the potential impact of their proximity to the military on them.
Reevaluation of WMD Claims and Human Costs
After the outbreak of the war, the American authorities admitted that the data on the presence of weapons of mass destruction were fabricated. A war began because of a false denunciation, which, according to the most conservative estimates, claimed 100 thousand lives (Gregg, 2023). Now the American authorities are cautiously assessing the actions of the Bush administration, which unleashed this campaign.
Because of the war, the fragile interfaith balance in Iraq was disrupted (Cotter, 2019). In the Middle East, where representatives of various religious beliefs coexist, such a rude intervention could not go painlessly (Cotter, 2019). Military Iraq became a kind of springboard for militant groups, which subsequently entered a power struggle in other countries of the Middle East.
Long-Term Implications for US International Strategy
The progressive instability in Iraq and the broader territory has disrupted the traditional conflict in Iraq. The conflict in Iraq has significantly influenced the US international strategy, both concerning direct participation in the conflict and a broader approach to international strategy (Gregg, 2023). Several pundits claimed that the conflict in Iraq sabotaged the actions of the United States.
Reasonableness and moral force, while others emphasized the conflict as proof of the need for a more cautious and reasonable approach to international strategy (Stubbs, 2021). Some of the critical examples obtained during the “Iraqi Freedom” activities include the importance of clear and achievable goals, the requirement of accurate and thorough knowledge, and the difficulties faced by the country in conflict conditions.
One of the most significant sources of analysis of the conflict in Iraq has been the discussion of the explanations underlying the conduct of hostilities. Another source of analysis of the conflict in Iraq was the continuous discussion about achievements or disappointments during the conflict. While the primary military mission was fruitful in eliminating Saddam Hussein’s system, the post-war time frame was characterized by constant brutality and instability, which, according to several experts, was proof of the war effort caused by the bombing (Gregg, 2023). In the US, resistance to the conflict was sparked by Anti-War activists and several government officials who argued that the conflict was unnecessary, costly, and based on erroneous knowledge.
The conflict was provoked by the United States and an alliance of partners because of the perceived dangers posed by Saddam Hussein’s system, including possession of weapons of mass destruction and links to Al-Qaeda. Huge local and global disagreements further highlighted the conflict as experts scrutinized the objectives behind the fighting, the immediate nature of the war, and the impact of the conflict on Iraq and the more expansive territory (Gregg, 2023). Operation Iraqi Freedom was a massive event in the history of the United States, which had long-term consequences for the international strategy and military activities and remained the subject of ongoing discussions and reflections.
References
Cotter, C. (2019). From Operation Iraqi Freedom to the Battle of Mosul: Fifteen years of displacement in Iraq. International Review of the Red Cross, 101(912), 1031–1050. Web.
Gregg, H. (2023). Operation Iraqi Freedom: Learning lessons from a lost war. Foreign Policy Research Institute. Web.
Stubbs, D. (2021). The direction, planning, and implementation of the Operation Iraqi Freedom air campaign, 19 March–2 May 2003. War in History, 096834452110345. Web.