CONFLICT
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Background
(Lore of what happened)
• Way back, basically what happened was the tensions
between Iraq and the U.S. go back several decades, with things
really heating up during the Gulf War in 1990-91. After Iraq, led
by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, the U.S. stepped in with a
coalition to push them out. This kicked off years of rocky
relations, with Iraq facing sanctions and accusations of
developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The situation
took a major turn in 2003 when the U.S., under President George
W. Bush, invaded Iraq, citing WMDs and ties to terrorism. No
WMDs were found, but Saddam’s government fell, leading to
years of instability and a long U.S. military presence. It was a
defining period that left a lasting impact on both countries and
the region.
What happened next
After Saddam Hussein's fall in 2003, Iraq went through
years of chaos. The U.S. stayed to help build a new
government while fighting insurgents and dealing with
rising sectarian violence. Things calmed down a bit after
a troop surge in 2007, but by 2011, the U.S. withdrew.
That didn’t solve Iraq’s problems—political tensions and
corruption paved the way for ISIS to rise in 2014. The
U.S. returned to help fight them, and by 2017, ISIS was
mostly defeated. Despite that, Iraq still faces political
Why USA invaded Iraq (Twice)
• The U.S. invaded Iraq twice for different reasons. The first time
was in 1991 during the Gulf War after Iraq, led by Saddam
Hussein, invaded Kuwait. The U.S. and its allies intervened to
protect Kuwait and maintain stability in the region. After
successfully pushing Iraqi forces out, they didn’t remove
Saddam from power but imposed sanctions and monitored Iraq
for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).The second invasion
came in 2003 when the U.S., under President George W. Bush,
claimed that Saddam was developing WMDs and had ties to
terrorism. These accusations were never proven, but the
invasion led to Saddam's removal. The second war had a much
longer impact, plunging Iraq into years of violence and political
instability.
Then what happened
• After the 2003 invasion and Saddam's removal, Iraq went through a
chaotic period. The U.S. stayed to help establish a new government
but faced a growing insurgency and deadly sectarian violence
between Sunni and Shia groups. In 2007, a troop surge temporarily
reduced the violence. By 2011, the U.S. withdrew its forces,
thinking Iraq could handle things on its own.
• However, political corruption and unresolved tensions weakened
Iraq's government. This opened the door for ISIS, a brutal extremist
group, to take over large parts of the country in 2014. The U.S.
returned with airstrikes and military support to help Iraq fight ISIS.
By 2017, ISIS had mostly been defeated, but Iraq still struggles with
political instability, corruption, and sporadic extremist attacks. U.S.
involvement remains a sensitive issue in the country.
Key terms
WMD: Weapon of Mass Destruction( self explanatory)
ISIS : ISIS is a dangerous extremist group that showed up
in Iraq after the U.S. invasion when the country was
dealing with chaos and weak leadership. They took
control of large areas by using violence and spreading
fear, making things even worse for people already
struggling with political and sectarian problems.
Saddam: Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq from 1979 to 2003
as a brutal dictator, waging wars, suppressing opponents,
and facing accusations of developing WMDs. He was
overthrown by the U.S. in 2003, captured, and executed
in 2006, leaving Iraq in chaos.
Short Timeline
• 1990-1991 (Gulf War): Iraq invades Kuwait; U.S.-led coalition
forces push Iraq out.
• 2003 (Invasion of Iraq): U.S. invades, citing weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs); Saddam Hussein is overthrown.
• 2006: Saddam Hussein is captured, tried, and executed.
• 2011: U.S. withdraws troops, leaving Iraq to manage its own security.
• 2014: ISIS captures large parts of Iraq, triggering U.S. military
involvement again.
• 2017: Iraq declares victory over ISIS, but extremist threats persist.
• Present: Iraq faces ongoing political instability, corruption, and
security challenges, with U.S. involvement remaining a sensitive
issue.
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