Democrats and the left-wing media have been sadly successful at creating a now widely held belief surrounding the 2003 Iraq War. They have relied on the public’s short memory span to re-cast history.
The current narrative goes something like this.
The Iraq War was a huge diplomatic and military failure. It was entered into by the United States unilaterally because President Bush wanted to take out Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The War was solely predicated on the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) by the Hussein regime. Bush lied to the public regarding such weapons to justify his personal decision to affect regime change in Iraq. His administration concocted phony intelligence. The War was Bush’s personal decision – and turned out to be an expensive failure – in life and assets. The most prominent Democrats point to the Iraq War as Bush’s failure.
The problem with the above narrative is that NONE of it is true. Let us look at the FACTS.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
The existence of WMD’s was not the only predicate for the War. It was not even the most important consideration. The reasons to affect regime change in Iraq was that Hussein was a dangerous rogue leader whose personal expansionist ambitions were destabilizing the entire Middle East. He had already undertaken aggressive military actions against neighbors, resulting in the 1990-1991 Gulf War that pushed back the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
By 2000, the International intelligence community established that Hussein was developing nuclear weaponry. That was not a theory but an established fact. It led to several resolutions by the United Nations condemning Iraq.
It was also well established that the concern over WMDs at the time was not limited to the nuclear program, but to chemical weaponry. Again, that was not a matter of theory. Hussein had repeatedly used such weapons on his own people and others.
On the eve of the War, satellite intelligence showed the movement of massive equipment into Syria. It was theorized at the time that equipment being exported were WMDs. Post War investigation showed what appeared to be the remnants of facilities engaged in the research and production of WMDs.
But again, the existence of WMD’s was not the only issue.
The Intelligence
There is no doubt that SOME of the intelligence was inaccurate. Hussein did not possess WMDs – at least at that time. But he was developing nuclear weaponry. The error in intelligence was not created in the White House. It came from both the American and British intelligence operations. Bush was as susceptible – no more or no less – to the erroneous information as were all those members of Congress. In fact, the Senate Intelligence Committee had its own sources of misinformation – contrary to the narrative that it was the White House deceiving the Congress.
In the final analysis, the flawed intelligence was NOT the deciding factor in the need to oust Hussein. The case was much bigger than one issue.
Role of the United Nations
Hussein was condemned by more than a dozen resolutions of the United Nations – warning him to cease his belligerent activities, end his development of nuclear weaponry and comply with international inspection agreements. Failure to do so would result in international military action against his regime.
In fact, the United Nations authorized an invasion of Iraq for the purpose of removing Hussein. Sixty-five nations participated in the action. It was not a solo performance by the United States.
The Role of Congress
In addition to seeking the support of the world community through the United Nations, President Bush also took the case to Congress to authorize American participation in the UN-authorized operation. Congress gave overwhelming support to the War. He did NOT act alone. It was approved by the votes of many who have since re-cast history – including then Senators Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden.
Winning the War
Considering the objectives laid out by the UN and the United States, the War, itself, was a great victory. Under the leadership of the United States, the UN forces advanced surprisingly quickly to the gates of Baghdad. In a display of military might labeled “shock and awe,” Hussein was quickly toppled and went into hiding. He was later found, tried and executed by the new Iraq government. The people of Iraq were in the streets celebrating – mobs were tearing down images and statues of Hussein — and America was heralded as a friend of the people. The War was essentially over in approximately one month. All this with very limited loses to the UN forces.
The War of Peace
Some revisionists refer to the 2003 action as the “first phase” of the War. That is not entirely accurate. The WAR was over. It was now a matter of building post-war Iraq. Nouri al-Maliki was selected to lead that effort . THAT was the big mistake. Rather than fulfill his promise of a government of all the people, Maliki’s partisan policies triggered a civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. This is when American interests and American presence got even more problematic. The United States was drawn into the internal secular battle.
Battleground Iraq War
What was essentially an internal civil war was transformed to Iraq being a field of battle for international forces when President Obama pulled out American troops and created a vacuum filled by ISIS, Iran, Syria and Russia – leaving behind billions of dollars of military equipment that was seized by our enemies.. Essentially, this was yet another third war in Iraq – the one in which we are engaged to this day.
Summary
For better or for worse, the United States must play the ball where it lies in the Middle East. But nothing can be gained – and much can be lost – if we allow the mendacious and hypocritical political accusations based on false narratives to muddy the situation.
So, there ‘tis.
We should stay out of the Middle East and let them kill each other, then come in after the dust settles and create a civilized society!!!
Weapons of Mass Destruction: The entire Bush admin. said it was a slam duck that Hussein had nukes. The entire cabinet gave regular speeches including the phrase we don’t want confirmation from a mushroom cloud, clearly implying Hussein had the nukes and was about to use them. Then all claimed after none were found, that they never said those things.
I’ll read nothing of UN sanctions when the US vetoes every single such resolution against her or Israel. Israel has nukes yet claims she doesn’t.
Nice try but we are told to stick behind a POTUS at times of such impeding national security, but the right (GOP) opposed everything Clinton did and these senators believed Bush’s lies complete with the sanction of Colin Powell. But didn’t expect to get kneecapped by the most egregiously incompetent follow-up under GWB and with Bremmer.
War and Peace: It was not at all Maliki’s partisan policies that triggered a civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. It was directly because Bush refused to give the CIA the go-ahead to take out Zarqawi in early 2003 when told he was a huge threat to Iraq.
Soon after the regime changed, Zarqawi then declared the new caliphate (ISIS) and proceeded to kill 100s of Sunni muslims. Thus America practically made sure they were ….starting a sectarian war.
Battleground Iraq war: The Bush Administration sought an agreement with the Iraqi government, and in 2008 Bush signed the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. It included a deadline of 31 December 2011, before which “all the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory”. The last U.S. troops left Iraq on 18 December 2011, in accordance with this agreement.
Yes, we cannot allow the mendacious and hypocritical political accusations based on false narratives to muddy the situation. Just like what we read here.
Typical Dem bullshit; if you can’t lie about it, don’t talk about it at all. God knows that their list of accomplishments is comparatively minuscule, if it can be said to even exist. Only thing left to do is smear any and all good that any and all Republicans do.
What are you guys talking about? WMD was absolutely the major reason for our invasion of Iraq. “He was planning on other aggressive actions” Says who Benjamin Netanyahoo? It was all a concocted pile of lies and you can’t say that it’s a partisan issue. It’s fact. I distinctly remember official after official coming on the news to tell us about the WMD threat. There was no Partisan wrangling about it. Everybody fell for it except the peaceniks who put on a huge anti-war protest in DC or NYC which wasn’t broadcast on TV.
Typical of RINO Bush………..The DEMS/RINOS never made good sense.,……..Worst scene with Bush is that he knew that there was going to be a 9/11 so he took a vacation in Florida……..Was sitting in a bar with a Burger & Beer when he received the report………..
BUSH was on the campaign trail with Hillary during 2016……..Bush & McCain should both be called traitors to the United States……..They never cared to do what was GOOD for the legal citizens of the USA, but were continually helping the illegal aliens that were supposed to be deported on their arrival according to the CONSTITUTION………….Just like the Obamas and the Clintons…….
Every Generation has its Cowards ! This Generation has its also,they go by the name of Democrats.