Us Engagement In Afghanistan And Iraq: Strategies And Objectives

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, following the September 11 attacks. The invasion was part of Operation Enduring Freedom, which aimed to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. The US also sought to topple the Taliban regime and dismantle Al-Qaeda. The US-led invasion successfully overthrew the Taliban and forced Al-Qaeda to flee to Pakistan. However, the US remained in Afghanistan for another two decades, attempting to rebuild the country and combat the resurgence of the Taliban. The war in Afghanistan became the longest in US history and resulted in significant casualties and costs for the US.

The US invaded Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein and destroy his weapons of mass destruction

The US invaded Iraq in 2003, citing the need to remove Saddam Hussein from power and destroy his weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). This invasion, dubbed "Operation Iraqi Freedom," began with an "overwhelming show of American military might" called "shock and awe." Within weeks, the US achieved its primary objective: ousting Saddam Hussein.

The decision to invade Iraq was influenced by the climate of fear in the US following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Bush administration argued that Saddam's regime possessed WMDs and supported terrorism, with possible ties to al-Qaeda. These assertions were later found to be false, leading to debates about whether the administration was a victim of flawed intelligence or deliberately misled the public.

Despite failing to find WMDs, US forces captured Saddam Hussein, who was tried and executed for his role in mass killings and crimes against humanity. The country was left deeply scarred by conflict, economic devastation, and political upheaval, with over 200,000 Iraqi civilians and 4,500 US soldiers killed. The war caused a public divide in the US and alienated key US allies.

In the aftermath, the US faced a mounting Iraqi insurgency, and public support for the war plummeted. The failure to find WMDs and the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison further eroded support for the war. The war continued for eight years, ending in 2011 with the withdrawal of US troops.

The Iraq War had a long and complicated legacy. It remained a political issue for years, impacting the legacies of George W. Bush and subsequent presidents. Despite the enormous costs, a majority of Americans initially believed that the US had "mostly succeeded" in achieving its goals in Iraq. However, this belief faded over time, and by 2018, a majority concluded that the US had failed to achieve its goals.

The US-led coalition forces overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime in a matter of weeks

On March 20, 2003, US and coalition forces invaded Iraq from Kuwait, with the stated goals of ending Saddam Hussein's rule and destroying alleged weapons of mass destruction. Within three weeks, US and coalition forces occupied much of Iraq and seized Baghdad. This swift military victory sent a powerful signal of American power and determination to the Middle East and the world. US President George W. Bush declared "mission accomplished" on May 1, 2003, announcing the end of major combat operations in Iraq.

However, the aftermath of the invasion was marked by lawlessness, chaos, and instability. The disbanding of the Iraqi army and intelligence services, as well as the banning of the Ba'ath Party from government, created a security vacuum that led to violent insurgency and sectarian conflict. Despite the quick military victory, the US-led occupation of Iraq lasted for years and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.

The decision to invade Iraq was influenced by a combination of security concerns and ideological motives to liberalize and democratize the country. The presence of weapons of mass destruction was a key justification for the invasion, but it was later revealed that this intelligence was flawed. The invasion was also tied to the influence of Iraqi exiles in the West, particularly those based in Iran, who pushed for Saddam's removal.

The overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime had far-reaching consequences for Iraq and the region. It led to a power vacuum that was filled by various factions, including Iranian-backed groups and ISIS. The country was deeply scarred by conflict, economic devastation, and political upheaval. The US-led invasion also had a lasting impact on the Middle East's geostrategic balance and the perception of American power and influence in the region.

The US failed to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

The failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has been described as a “great intelligence failure” and led to accusations that the Bush administration deliberately misled the public. In the lead-up to the war, Bush and senior members of his administration spent over a year outlining the dangers posed by Hussein's regime, emphasizing two key arguments: first, that the regime possessed weapons of mass destruction, and second, that it supported terrorism and had ties to terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.

The US Senate Report of Pre-war Intelligence on Iraq, released in July 2004, concluded that many of the Bush administration's pre-war statements about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were misleading and not supported by the underlying intelligence. The report found that there was no factual basis for the assertion that Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction or had ties to al-Qaeda.

The failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq damaged the credibility of the Bush administration and led to a loss of public support for the war. It also raised questions about the role of intelligence in policymaking and the effectiveness of UN weapons inspections.

While the Bush administration bore the brunt of the criticism, some have argued that the intelligence community also failed to provide accurate information. However, it is clear that the Bush administration hyped the intelligence that supported their case for war while ignoring or playing down dissenting opinions within the intelligence community.

The US-led coalition forces remained in Iraq to help rebuild the country and train its security forces

The coalition forces were led by the United States of America and included the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Spain, Poland, and many other countries. The coalition forces were deployed in Iraq under a United Nations (UN) Security Council mandate.

The coalition forces were responsible for training and advising the Iraqi Security Forces. The coalition forces also provided extensive support to the Iraqi Security Forces via training, intelligence, and personnel. The total cost of coalition support to the ISF, excluding direct military operations, was officially announced at ~$3.5 billion by March 2019. 189,0000 Iraqi soldiers and police officers received training from coalition forces.

The coalition forces also helped rebuild core institutions of the Iraqi state. The coalition forces were involved in humanitarian efforts to support refugees stranded in northern Iraq with airdropped supplies. The coalition forces also helped improve governance and socio-economic development in Iraq.

The coalition forces were also responsible for ensuring that Iraq would not become a safe haven for international terrorists to attack NATO member countries. The coalition forces were deployed in Iraq after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Over the last two decades, there have been no terrorist attacks on Allied soil from Afghanistan.

The US-led coalition forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011

The US-led coalition forces' withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 was the result of a combination of factors, including:

• The completion of the coalition's mission: By 2011, the coalition forces had successfully helped the Iraqi government regain control of the country and defeat ISIL. This was a significant achievement and a key objective of the coalition's mission.
• The rising violence and casualties: The war in Iraq resulted in significant casualties on both sides. By 2011, the US had suffered around 4,500 casualties, and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians had been killed. The rising violence and casualties put pressure on the coalition forces to withdraw.
• The political deadlock in Iraq: Iraq was facing a political deadlock, with a power struggle between different factions and an inability to form a stable government. This political instability made it difficult for the coalition forces to continue their mission effectively.
• The shift in US foreign policy: With the election of Barack Obama as the US President in 2008, there was a shift in US foreign policy. Obama campaigned on a promise to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months of taking office. This shift in foreign policy priorities contributed to the decision to withdraw the coalition forces from Iraq.
• The strain on military resources: The war in Iraq had strained the military resources of the US and its allies. With the focus on Iraq, there were concerns about the ability to effectively respond to other global conflicts or emergencies.
• The financial cost of the war: The war in Iraq was costly, with the US spending around $800 billion. This financial burden, along with the human cost, led to increasing pressure to withdraw the coalition forces.
• The improving security situation in Iraq: By 2011, the security situation in Iraq had improved significantly. The Iraqi security forces had been trained and equipped, and they were able to take on more responsibilities. This improvement allowed for a gradual withdrawal of coalition forces.

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