Free Iraq War Outcome Essay Sample

After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the United States of America, under the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq.  Even before the world’s superpower invaded Iraq, the Bush administration had long expressed its intension to oust the then ruler of Iraq Saddam Hussein. The United States considered the Middle East as an “arc of instability’ and had the main objective of increasing its presence in Baghdad, which is the heart of the Middle East region. However, the worst terrorist attacks on US soil prompted the US government to take effort and invade the country. This paper discusses why the war in Iraq did not go according to plan. In addition, the paper assesses whether President Obama’s decision to remove all US troops in the recent weeks was a wise decision.  

The initial plan was to have five military bases referred to as ‘enduring bases’ that would host nearly 10,000 military personnel at a time. This would give the US military a good position in terms of presence and ease of deployment. These bases would control the region from Syria to Afghanistan and possibly influence other regime changes in the Middle East that are aggressive towards the US. At the beginning, James and David asserts that the plan went well with the overthrow of Saddam’s government.  However, the occupation soon turned into a catastrophe. The invasion was not welcome by the civilians. Mass resistance was exhibited by the civilian population with local insurgents killing the American troops. The situation got terrible with each report increasing the number of American fatalities. The war also meant huge costs and monetary funding for the military. This war resulted in a tremendous increase in the military spending.

Back at home, the American people were getting dismayed by the rising number of losses. Americans were getting tired of a collapsing economy with a very expensive war on two fronts. Afghanistan was also factored in the war. All these factors led to the eventual collapse of the American plan in Iraq. When President Obama took over at Washington, he has since managed to withdraw the American troops from Iraq. In the short-term, this might be a prudent action, its long-term impact is not clear.  Currently, most Americans consider this a wise decision. This has the potential of reducing the military spending and improving America’s image to the rest of the world.

As the U.S. troops were gradually withdrawn from Iraq under President Obama's administration, the geopolitical landscape underwent notable changes. The vacuum created by the departure of American forces allowed for a complex power struggle within Iraq. Sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shia factions intensified, leading to a surge in violence and political instability. The absence of a stabilizing American presence paved the way for the emergence of extremist groups, most notably the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This radical militant organization exploited the vulnerabilities in Iraq, seizing significant territory and posing a severe threat to regional security. The rise of ISIS necessitated renewed international intervention, with the U.S. and its allies launching military operations to counteract the extremist group.

Simultaneously, the withdrawal from Iraq had broader implications for U.S. influence in the Middle East. As America disengaged from one theater, attention shifted to other areas of concern, such as the ongoing conflict in Syria. The regional power dynamics witnessed a recalibration, with other actors, including Russia and Iran, filling the void left by the receding American influence. The repercussions of the Iraq withdrawal also echoed within U.S. domestic politics. Debates ensued regarding the wisdom of the decision, particularly in light of the subsequent challenges faced by Iraq and the broader region. Critics argued that the premature withdrawal contributed to the destabilization of Iraq, while supporters maintained that it was a necessary step to redirect resources and focus.

In the years that followed, the situation in Iraq remained complex, with sporadic outbreaks of violence and political fragility. The evolving dynamics in the Middle East underscored the intricate balance of power and the enduring impact of foreign interventions. The aftermath of the Iraq War and its subsequent withdrawal became a focal point in discussions surrounding U.S. foreign policy, shaping perspectives on the use of military force and the complexities of nation-building in the 21st century.

 

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