The Complex Legacy Of The Iraq And Afghanistan Wars: Understanding America's Longest Conflicts

The war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been a long and complicated conflict that began in 2001 and ended in 2021. The primary rationale for the war in Iraq was to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people. The war in Afghanistan was a response to the September 11 attacks, with the goal of preventing future terrorist attacks on American soil. The US military, with British support, began a bombing campaign against Taliban forces, officially launching Operation Enduring Freedom. While the war in Iraq resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 US service members and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, the war in Afghanistan lasted for 20 years and cost over $2 trillion, with 2,461 American personnel losing their lives.

The US wanted to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction

The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was largely justified by the belief that Saddam Hussein's regime was actively building weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and posed a threat to the US and its allies. In the lead-up to the invasion, the Bush administration worked to build a case for military intervention, culminating in then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's February 2003 address to the UN Security Council. Powell claimed that Iraq was developing WMDs, covertly supporting al-Qaeda, and posed a threat to its neighbours and the world.

The US government's belief that Iraq was developing WMDs was based on documents that the CIA later argued could not be trusted. Powell's address to the UN included reconnaissance photos, elaborate maps and charts, and taped phone conversations between senior members of Iraq's military. He asserted that "every statement I make today is backed up by sources – solid sources" and that the US had "facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence". Powell's speech was a defining moment that influenced public opinion and ultimately led to the invasion.

However, shortly after the invasion, the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and other intelligence agencies largely discredited the evidence related to Iraqi WMDs and alleged links to al-Qaeda. No evidence of Iraqi WMD programs or active production lines was found, and the Bush administration began to shift its rationale for the war to secondary justifications, such as the Saddam Hussein government's human rights record and promoting democracy in Iraq.

The failure to find WMDs in Iraq caused considerable controversy and led to claims that the Bush administration deliberately manipulated and misused intelligence to push for an invasion. Critics charged that the administration falsified evidence to build a case for war, and these criticisms were strengthened by the release of the so-called Downing Street memo, which suggested that "intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" of removing Saddam Hussein from power.

The Iraq Survey Group, tasked with searching for WMDs in Iraq, concluded that Iraqi production of WMDs ceased and all major stockpiles were destroyed in 1991 when economic sanctions were imposed. The group also found that Iraq continued developing long-range missiles proscribed by the UN until just before the 2003 invasion.

The US officially declared its combat role in Iraq over in 2010, although several thousand troops remained in the country until all American troops were withdrawn by 2011.

The US wanted to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism

The US invaded Iraq in 2003 to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism. The US government believed that Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and had ties to al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

In the lead-up to the invasion, the Bush administration worked to build a case for military intervention in Iraq, claiming that Hussein was developing WMDs, covertly supporting al-Qaeda, and posed a threat to his neighbors and the world community. The US also asserted that Hussein was in league with al-Qaeda, despite there being no evidence to support this claim.

The Bush administration's assertions were later discredited by multiple US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Department's Inspector General's Office. However, the damage had already been done, and the US proceeded with the invasion.

Hussein had a long history of supporting terrorism and housing terrorist groups. In 1993, the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) directed an attempt to assassinate former US President George Bush and the Emir of Kuwait using a powerful car bomb. Kuwaiti authorities thwarted the plot and arrested 16 suspects, led by two Iraqi nationals.

Iraq also sheltered several prominent terrorist organizations, including the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), which had used terrorist violence against Iran and was responsible for killing several US military personnel and civilians in the 1970s. Iraq also sheltered the Abu Nidal Organization, an international terrorist group that had carried out attacks in 20 countries, killing or injuring almost 900 people, including targets in the US and other Western nations.

In addition to housing terrorist groups, Hussein also provided financial support to terrorists. In April 2002, he increased the money offered to families of Palestinian suicide/homicide bombers from $10,000 to $25,000. Payments were made based on a strict scale, with different amounts for wounds, disablement, and death.

Hussein also fostered a cult of personality during his rule, projecting an image of himself as Iraq's most influential leader and a courageous modernizer. He was overthrown in April 2003 following the US-led invasion of Iraq and executed for crimes against humanity in 2006.

The US wanted to free the Iraqi people

In the lead-up to the invasion, the United States and the United Kingdom claimed that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction, covertly supporting al-Qaeda, and that he presented a threat to his neighbors and to the world community. The US stated that the UN Security Council had unanimously adopted Resolution 1441, which gave Iraq "a final opportunity to comply with its obligations and disarm or face the serious consequences of failing to disarm".

The Bush administration worked to build a case for invading Iraq, culminating in then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's February 2003 address to the Security Council. However, shortly after the invasion, the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and other intelligence agencies largely discredited evidence related to Iraqi weapons as well as alleged links to al-Qaeda.

In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush said that "Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons, for over a decade." He also described Iraq as part of an "axis of evil", along with Iran and North Korea.

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, Bush mentioned Saddam's government practices of obtaining confessions by torturing children while their parents are made to watch, electric shock, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape.

In a 2003 interview, Bush said that "I have a deep desire for peace. That's what I have a desire for. And freedom for the Iraqi people. See, I don't like a system where people are repressed through torture and murder in order to keep a dictator in place. That troubles me deeply. And so the Iraqi people must hear this loud and clear, that this country never has any intention to conquer anybody."

The US wanted to defend American interests

The US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban regime and capture Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The US wanted to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists and to prevent the destabilization of Pakistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has nuclear weapons. The US believed that a stable Afghanistan was necessary to maintain stability in Pakistan and prevent a nuclear-armed al-Qaeda.

The US also wanted to promote democracy and human rights in Afghanistan. The US wanted to help the Afghan people and improve their lives by promoting democracy and human rights. The US wanted to help build a strong, stable, and democratic Afghanistan that could provide for its people and protect their rights. The US wanted to work with the Afghan government to improve security, justice, and economic development. The US wanted to work with the Afghan government to fight corruption and improve governance.

The US also wanted to protect its troops and allies. The US wanted to protect its troops and allies from harm and ensure their safety. The US wanted to minimize casualties and bring its troops home safely. The US wanted to end the war and bring its troops home.

The US wanted to hunt down terrorists

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to hunt down Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, the perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The invasion of Afghanistan was part of the "Global War on Terror", an international, American-led military campaign to seek out and stop terrorists around the world.

In the years following the 9/11 attacks, the US government asserted that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction, covertly supporting al-Qaeda, and presented a threat to his neighbours and the world community. These claims were used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which was also framed as part of the Global War on Terror.

The use of military force in Iraq and Afghanistan was supported by large majorities of the American public, who were still reeling from the 9/11 attacks and accepted the possible use of military force as part of the "global war on terror".

In both Afghanistan and Iraq, the US employed drones and special operations forces to hunt down terrorists. In Afghanistan, the US military worked with British, Australian, Canadian, French, and German forces to carry out strikes on al-Qaeda and Taliban targets. In Iraq, the US military worked with British forces to carry out strikes on al-Qaeda and Iraqi targets.

The US also used Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a detention facility for terrorists captured in the Global War on Terror.

Frequently asked questions