War In Iraq Research Paper
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The War in Iraq
By Chris Joseph Year 9
What were the negative effects of the US-led invasion of Iraq on the Iraqi people?
The war in Iraq was costly, highly opposed and in the end, quite disastrous. It caused a humanitarian crisis in Iraq; there were serious political consequences, economic consequences, and the destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage and so it is difficult for anyone to justify whether or not the war was worth it.
Humanitarian Crisis
Figure A Iraqi Refugees in a UNHCR camp
Source: ccun.org Accessed: 17/09/13
The US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 caused many civilian casualties, but it did not immediately create a major humanitarian crisis or set off mass amounts of refugees leaving Iraq. …show more content…
Soon after, however, the coalition 's ‘counter-insurgency’ operations, including massive attacks on cities like Falluja, led to an increased mortality rate and massive civilian displacement, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Starting in 2006, sectarian clashes worsened and inter-communal violence led to rising death and injury, as well as a massive rise in displacement.
Iraq 's death rate has also risen tremendously. With the Coalition increasing how often it conducts bombing and ground attacks as well as the rise in sectarian violence, a growing number of Iraqi citizens are being forced to leave their towns and homes and other minority group such as the Kurds are also being forced to leave. According to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), there are 1.9 million people that have been displaced in the country and over 2 million refugees that have escaped to neighbouring countries to avoid the war, especially to Syria and Jordan. Unemployment and poverty rose sharply too. According to the United Nations Development Program, one-third of the population now lives in poverty and the Iraqi Education system has broken down. Additionally, Iraqi’s basic needs like drinking water, food, sanitation and electricity are also being disregarded by the Coalition. Even hospitals lack the basic medical supplies required for a hospital and are also short on staff.
The international relief system has not been able to respond adequately to the growing humanitarian challenges. International agencies are facing serious problems reaching Iraqis at risk. Iraq 's humanitarian emergency has reached a crisis level that compares with or even exceeds some of the world 's most urgent calamities.
Political Consequences
Figure B Map of a proposed separatist Iraq
Source: World Security Network Accessed: 17/09/13
Since the US led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, whistle-blowers have called on the US to acknowledge that key issues in the Middle East like Iraq, Iran and the conflict between the Israeli’s and Palestinians are all connected.
However, the US follows a policy which alienates other countries in the region from helping to build a sovereign and Secure Iraq.
Speculation is also growing as to whether Iraq will be divided. The US claims that violence in the country is due to a civil war between warring religious groups (Shia, Sunni and Shiite Muslims) and that it should be separated into three regions- Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish (Figure B). This proposal was looked at in as a ‘non-binding resolution’ to the war in the US Congress in October 2007.
Iraqis argue that a divided Iraq would complicate the security problem. With little United Nations influence over the US-led occupation of Iraq, people suggest Iraq could become a ‘political protectorate’ of the US without input from regional areas and/or international approval. This will cause a multitude of problems for the United States as this show of power will not be taken lightly by the UN and the Iraqi’s themselves will not like the idea of being ‘owned’ at …show more content…
all.
Economic Consequences
Figure C The rubble of a building destroyed in the war
Source: The Situationist Accessed: 18/09/13
The US led occupation of Iraq and the plans for a long term military occupation or ‘presence’ in the country has cost the US more than a trillion dollars. In addition to the $600 billion (US dollars) spent in the war from 2003 to 2007, President George W Bush demanded another $196 billion for the war in Iraq as well as Afghanistan in 2008. Congress has now however, begun to restrict spending on the war, because of the fact that the cost of the Iraq war has exceeded that of the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Iraq experienced years of turmoil under the tyrannical dictator Saddam Hussein, resulting in the crumpling of Iraq’s economy, a war with Iran and harsh UN-imposed sanctions. After now ten years of US occupation, Iraq still suffers from extreme unemployment and poverty, with over 4 million displaced refugees. The country 's infrastructure is in ruins and US reconstruction plans have been marred due to fraud, mismanagement of funds and incompetence of those in charge. Onlookers at the war expect these effects to last long after the war and it will take Iraq time to heal.
This will affect the Iraqi’s as for the time being, many people will be homeless, poor, and children will go without an education. Refugees will continue to flood out of Iraq to neighbouring countries, causing problems for them, and mortality rates will rise, as will anger toward the Coalition troops as the people will need someone to blame for these negative effects.
Destruction of Cultural Heritage
Figure D A 4,000-year-old ‘ziggurat’ is marked by shrapnel damage
Source: National Geographic Accessed: 17/09/13
The United States and its allies ignored the warnings sent to them by organizations and scholars concerned about the protection of Iraq 's cultural heritage, including museums, libraries, archaeological sites and other precious historical remnants. Arsonists burned down the National Library and thieves looted the National Museum. Looters also damaged or destroyed many historic buildings and artifacts over time. The US constructed a military base on the site of ancient Babylon and Coalition forces destroyed or badly damaged many historic urban areas and buildings, while thieves have ruined thousands of unprotected, irreplaceable archaeological sites.
Even during the run-up to the invasion of March 2003, authorities in Washington and London were contacted by professional organizations and individual scholars, warning of the dangers to Iraq’s cultural heritage. Eight thousand years of history stored in the valley of Mesopotamia has produced some of the world 's greatest cultural treasures and sites. This rich history includes collections of extraordinary museums and libraries, as well as historic buildings, old cities, and hundreds of important archaeological sites. Some of the world 's leading scholars in the areas of archaeology, art and history warned of damage during military operations and also the ever-present danger of post-war looting of sites. This should have prompted them to take measures to prevent this, but alas, they did nothing.
The troops that captured Baghdad and other Iraqi cities in early April of 2003 also did not act to protect the cultural sites in the area.
They neither took up protective positions nor attempted to stop the acts of looting and destruction, even when asked to do so by the civilians they were there to liberate in the first place. Since the most important cultural sites stood in two small areas of the city, military commanders could have taken simple steps to protect these sites. Several tanks and detachments of infantry were even stationed nearby. They could easily have intervened, but the soldiers said their orders prevented them from getting involved. Having shut down the Iraqi army and police force, Coalition military leaders exposed Iraq’s cultural treasures to great danger and almost certain destruction.
This loss of cultural heritage will affect the future generations as they will not have as many resources to learn about their heritage and culture. Their children, their children’s children, and their grandchildren will grow up will much less knowledge of their culture than the current generations
do.
The US-led invasion of Iraq caused many problems and had many negative effects on the people of Iraq. Massive displacement, deaths, and refugees streaming out of Iraq led to a major humanitarian crisis. Ignorance by the US led to political consequences, mismanagement of funds led to an Economic crisis and carelessness by Coalition troops led to the destruction of some of Iraq’s most significant historical artifacts and archaeological sites. So after facing the confronting costs of the war in Iraq, it’s up to you to answer the question for yourself, was it worth it?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx
References
Books
Anderson, J. 2004. The fall of Baghdad. New York: Penguin Press.
Mcmanners, H. 2010. Gulf War One. Great Britain: A Random House Group company.
Websites
3-rd Rock. 2011. Long-Term Effects of the War in Iraq. [online] Available at: http://www.3rd-rock.org/iraq/analysis/long_term.html [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].
About.com. 2013. Iraq War Effect on the Middle East. [online] Available at: http://middleeast.about.com/od/ira1/tp/Iraq-War-Effect-On-The-Middle-East.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].
Costsofwar.org. 2013. Iraqi Civilians | Costs of War. [online] Available at: http://costsofwar.org/article/iraqi-civilians [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].
Teen Ink. 2013. The Iraq War: Causes and Effects | Teen Nonfiction | Teen Ink. [online] Available at: http://teenink.com/nonfiction/all/article/48766/The-Iraq-War-Causes-and-Effects/ [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].
Web.mit.edu. 2013. The Human Cost of the War in Iraq. [online] Available at: http://web.mit.edu/humancostiraq/ [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].
The War in Iraq
By Chris Joseph Year 9
What were the negative effects of the US-led invasion of Iraq on the Iraqi people?
The war in Iraq was costly, highly opposed and in the end, quite disastrous. It caused a humanitarian crisis in Iraq; there were serious political consequences, economic consequences, and the destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage and so it is difficult for anyone to justify whether or not the war was worth it.
Humanitarian Crisis
Figure A Iraqi Refugees in a UNHCR camp
Source: ccun.org Accessed: 17/09/13
The US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 caused many civilian casualties, but it did not immediately create a major humanitarian crisis or set off mass amounts of refugees leaving Iraq. …show more content…
Soon after, however, the coalition 's ‘counter-insurgency’ operations, including massive attacks on cities like Falluja, led to an increased mortality rate and massive civilian displacement, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Starting in 2006, sectarian clashes worsened and inter-communal violence led to rising death and injury, as well as a massive rise in displacement.
Iraq 's death rate has also risen tremendously. With the Coalition increasing how often it conducts bombing and ground attacks as well as the rise in sectarian violence, a growing number of Iraqi citizens are being forced to leave their towns and homes and other minority group such as the Kurds are also being forced to leave. According to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), there are 1.9 million people that have been displaced in the country and over 2 million refugees that have escaped to neighbouring countries to avoid the war, especially to Syria and Jordan. Unemployment and poverty rose sharply too. According to the United Nations Development Program, one-third of the population now lives in poverty and the Iraqi Education system has broken down. Additionally, Iraqi’s basic needs like drinking water, food, sanitation and electricity are also being disregarded by the Coalition. Even hospitals lack the basic medical supplies required for a hospital and are also short on staff.
The international relief system has not been able to respond adequately to the growing humanitarian challenges. International agencies are facing serious problems reaching Iraqis at risk. Iraq 's humanitarian emergency has reached a crisis level that compares with or even exceeds some of the world 's most urgent calamities.
Political Consequences
Figure B Map of a proposed separatist Iraq
Source: World Security Network Accessed: 17/09/13
Since the US led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, whistle-blowers have called on the US to acknowledge that key issues in the Middle East like Iraq, Iran and the conflict between the Israeli’s and Palestinians are all connected.
However, the US follows a policy which alienates other countries in the region from helping to build a sovereign and Secure Iraq.
Speculation is also growing as to whether Iraq will be divided. The US claims that violence in the country is due to a civil war between warring religious groups (Shia, Sunni and Shiite Muslims) and that it should be separated into three regions- Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish (Figure B). This proposal was looked at in as a ‘non-binding resolution’ to the war in the US Congress in October 2007.
Iraqis argue that a divided Iraq would complicate the security problem. With little United Nations influence over the US-led occupation of Iraq, people suggest Iraq could become a ‘political protectorate’ of the US without input from regional areas and/or international approval. This will cause a multitude of problems for the United States as this show of power will not be taken lightly by the UN and the Iraqi’s themselves will not like the idea of being ‘owned’ at …show more content…
all.
Economic Consequences
Figure C The rubble of a building destroyed in the war
Source: The Situationist Accessed: 18/09/13
The US led occupation of Iraq and the plans for a long term military occupation or ‘presence’ in the country has cost the US more than a trillion dollars. In addition to the $600 billion (US dollars) spent in the war from 2003 to 2007, President George W Bush demanded another $196 billion for the war in Iraq as well as Afghanistan in 2008. Congress has now however, begun to restrict spending on the war, because of the fact that the cost of the Iraq war has exceeded that of the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Iraq experienced years of turmoil under the tyrannical dictator Saddam Hussein, resulting in the crumpling of Iraq’s economy, a war with Iran and harsh UN-imposed sanctions. After now ten years of US occupation, Iraq still suffers from extreme unemployment and poverty, with over 4 million displaced refugees. The country 's infrastructure is in ruins and US reconstruction plans have been marred due to fraud, mismanagement of funds and incompetence of those in charge. Onlookers at the war expect these effects to last long after the war and it will take Iraq time to heal.
This will affect the Iraqi’s as for the time being, many people will be homeless, poor, and children will go without an education. Refugees will continue to flood out of Iraq to neighbouring countries, causing problems for them, and mortality rates will rise, as will anger toward the Coalition troops as the people will need someone to blame for these negative effects.
Destruction of Cultural Heritage
Figure D A 4,000-year-old ‘ziggurat’ is marked by shrapnel damage
Source: National Geographic Accessed: 17/09/13
The United States and its allies ignored the warnings sent to them by organizations and scholars concerned about the protection of Iraq 's cultural heritage, including museums, libraries, archaeological sites and other precious historical remnants. Arsonists burned down the National Library and thieves looted the National Museum. Looters also damaged or destroyed many historic buildings and artifacts over time. The US constructed a military base on the site of ancient Babylon and Coalition forces destroyed or badly damaged many historic urban areas and buildings, while thieves have ruined thousands of unprotected, irreplaceable archaeological sites.
Even during the run-up to the invasion of March 2003, authorities in Washington and London were contacted by professional organizations and individual scholars, warning of the dangers to Iraq’s cultural heritage. Eight thousand years of history stored in the valley of Mesopotamia has produced some of the world 's greatest cultural treasures and sites. This rich history includes collections of extraordinary museums and libraries, as well as historic buildings, old cities, and hundreds of important archaeological sites. Some of the world 's leading scholars in the areas of archaeology, art and history warned of damage during military operations and also the ever-present danger of post-war looting of sites. This should have prompted them to take measures to prevent this, but alas, they did nothing.
The troops that captured Baghdad and other Iraqi cities in early April of 2003 also did not act to protect the cultural sites in the area.
They neither took up protective positions nor attempted to stop the acts of looting and destruction, even when asked to do so by the civilians they were there to liberate in the first place. Since the most important cultural sites stood in two small areas of the city, military commanders could have taken simple steps to protect these sites. Several tanks and detachments of infantry were even stationed nearby. They could easily have intervened, but the soldiers said their orders prevented them from getting involved. Having shut down the Iraqi army and police force, Coalition military leaders exposed Iraq’s cultural treasures to great danger and almost certain destruction.
This loss of cultural heritage will affect the future generations as they will not have as many resources to learn about their heritage and culture. Their children, their children’s children, and their grandchildren will grow up will much less knowledge of their culture than the current generations
do.
The US-led invasion of Iraq caused many problems and had many negative effects on the people of Iraq. Massive displacement, deaths, and refugees streaming out of Iraq led to a major humanitarian crisis. Ignorance by the US led to political consequences, mismanagement of funds led to an Economic crisis and carelessness by Coalition troops led to the destruction of some of Iraq’s most significant historical artifacts and archaeological sites. So after facing the confronting costs of the war in Iraq, it’s up to you to answer the question for yourself, was it worth it?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx
References
Books
Anderson, J. 2004. The fall of Baghdad. New York: Penguin Press.
Mcmanners, H. 2010. Gulf War One. Great Britain: A Random House Group company.
Websites
3-rd Rock. 2011. Long-Term Effects of the War in Iraq. [online] Available at: http://www.3rd-rock.org/iraq/analysis/long_term.html [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].
About.com. 2013. Iraq War Effect on the Middle East. [online] Available at: http://middleeast.about.com/od/ira1/tp/Iraq-War-Effect-On-The-Middle-East.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].
Costsofwar.org. 2013. Iraqi Civilians | Costs of War. [online] Available at: http://costsofwar.org/article/iraqi-civilians [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].
Teen Ink. 2013. The Iraq War: Causes and Effects | Teen Nonfiction | Teen Ink. [online] Available at: http://teenink.com/nonfiction/all/article/48766/The-Iraq-War-Causes-and-Effects/ [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].
Web.mit.edu. 2013. The Human Cost of the War in Iraq. [online] Available at: http://web.mit.edu/humancostiraq/ [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].