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IRAQ (2003)

Rebecca Schaeffer, Alexander Sellrup , and Dean Luo. IRAQ (2003). Background and Motives for Invasion. “Humanitarian Justification”.

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IRAQ (2003)

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  1. Rebecca Schaeffer, Alexander Sellrup, and Dean Luo IRAQ (2003)

  2. Background and Motives for Invasion

  3. “Humanitarian Justification” • Originally, the major reason specified by the American Government to enter Iraq had less to do with humanitarian reasons and more to do with Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). • However, recently the United States government has been pushing the idea that the Iraq invasion was a ‘humanitarian intervention.’

  4. The Situation in Iraq • Since Saddam Hussein’s rise to power he was estimated to have killed around 250 000 of his own people • In 1988 he committed the Anfalgenecide in which somewhere around 100 000 Kurdish people died • In 1991 the conditions were bad enough that the UN intervened to help the persecuted Kurds (though not the Shiites) • Hussein’s regime was known for brutal executions, torture, and other atrocities

  5. But at that time (2003)… • There was no evidence a mass killing was being planned • The killings had even calmed down from previous years • True, with a past record of humanitarian crimes, it was reasonable to assume that some crimes would happen in the future… but they weren’t happening then. • The R2P report specifically states under the Right Intentions section: • 4.33 The primary purpose of the intervention must be tohalt or avert human suffering. Any use of military force that aims from the outset, for example, for the alteration of borders or the advancement of a particular combatant group’s claim to self-determination, cannot be justified. Overthrow of regimes is not, as such, a legitimate objective, although disabling that regime’s capacity to harm its own people may be essential to discharging the mandate of protection – and what is necessary to achieve that disabling will vary from case to case. • However, some people (ie. Wheeler) believe that as long as humanitarian actions take place, motives are irrelevant.

  6. Other reasons for Invasion • A number of reasons have been proposed for the Iraq invasion • Humanitarian intervention • Prevent use of WMD • Eliminate a supposed terrorist threat • The US wanted free access Iraq’s oil and natural gas reserves • President Bush wanted to get revenge on Saddam Hussein’s attempted assassination of his father. • You never know. People can be pretty petty.

  7. The Situation in the US: Terrorism • After 9/11, the US government become paranoid about terrorism. • Because terrorists are not tied down to any specific country, and there is no one for other states to retaliate against, the usual methods of deterrence become obsolete. • In January 2002, President Bush identified Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as potential terrorist group supporters. • The “axis of evil” • However, there was no strong evidence to back up any of these claims. • Perhaps striking out against a tangible enemy because he couldn’t find the real terrorists? • Would the US have intervened had 9/11 not occurred?

  8. Preventative War and the Bush Doctrine • Post 9/11, President Bush claimed that the USA could no longer rely on a reactive approach to war, but when faced with ‘rogue states’ one needs to consider preventative war. • Preventative war is still war though. You can’t go to war to prevent war. It’s contradictory. • Article 51 of the UN charter explicitly states that you can act in self defence only after you have been attacked. • However, some people say an argument can be made for justifying a pre-emptive strike in the case of clear an immediate danger – but is that really what the United States did?

  9. Weapons of Mass Destruction • After the Gulf war, the UN prohibited Iraq from the creation or possession of weapons of mass destruction, and required that Iraq submit to regular inspections confirming this. (Resolution 687) • However, Iraq was uncompliant. • On November 8, 2002, the UN adopted resolution 1441 (unanimously) that demanded Iraq comply with the UN demands to view suspected weapons manufacturing facilities. • A number of other demands were also included, regarding suspected purchase of missiles, refusal to compensate Kuwait for various war crimes in 1990-91, etc etc.

  10. International Support (or lack thereof) • On February 5th 2003, the United States presented evidence to the UN that Iraq was secretly stockpiling weapons • In particular, poison gasses, uranium and biological weapons • In March, the UN inspectors claimed that thus far in their investigations, no evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction had been found • The US, UK, and Spain proposed an ‘18th resolution’ that would give Iraq a deadline to comply with international demands (see resolution 1441,etc). If the deadline was not met, then all necessary force could be used. • However, the resolution was withdrawn due to strong opposition from the other UN members • In particular, France, Germany, Canada, China and Russia were opposed and insisted on using diplomatic means.

  11. The Invasion Begins: Operation Iraqi Freedom • The US and allies (principally the UK and Australia) invaded on March 20th, 2003 • They did not issue a declaration of war, but instead opted for a surprise attack • A series of missile attacks on Baghdad were launched in the hopes of destabilizing the Iraqi leadership. • The US claimed to have intelligence on the movement of important figures in the Iraqi government, which it targeted • However, it was later revealed that this information was inaccurate, and as a result, the bombing simply resulted in heavy civilian casualties. • Despite this, the American troops were initially welcomes with open arms.

  12. The Invasion continues • Multiple ground troops were deployed from all sides of the country targeting major strategic points. • US troops started by entering Iraq from Kuwait and attacking the southern front • The Kurds attacked from the north, with US troops coming in later to supplement their numbers • There was a strong Iraqi resistance (more than initially expected), however the Western powers quickly overcame them • By April 15th all major targets had been acquired • Baghdad fell on April 9th, and the last target was Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit on April 15th. • On May 1st, President George W Bush announced the success of the Iraq invasion force aboard the Abraham Lincoln carrier at sea.

  13. Government Building • Shortly after the invasion (21 April), a provisional government was created called the Coalition Provisional Authority • The UN assisted with the creation of the government, which was meant as an interim body that would run the country until a stable Iraqi democracy could be built • The government was disbanded in June of 2004, giving way to a US supported Iraqi government • The Iraqi transitional government began work on ratifying a new constitution in 2005, which was ratified on October 16 2005 • A new assembly was elected that December with members from the Kurds, Shia, and Sunni

  14. Occupation Problems • The Iraqis in general didn’t like being an occupied country • Guerrilla tactics such as sniping, suicide bombers, insurgencies became a huge problem very quickly after the occupancy began and accounted for much of the loss of American life • However, the US retaliations for these attacks made sure the Iraqi civilians paid a much higher cost in blood • For example, after 4 Americans were attacked and mutilated, the US attacked Fallelujah, killing around 600 Iraqi civilians.

  15. Occupation Problems • The murder of more than 300 government officials in the former Iraqi government, most notably the death of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 appeared to calm the insurgencies for a short time, but it was only a lull. • Agitation among the Iraqis continued though for the disbanding of the coalition government and the creation of a new Iraqi government • Even after the new Iraqi government was put in place, insurgent tactics continued.

  16. War Crimes • Accusations and then evidence that the US was torturing Iraqi prisoners came to light, causing what little faith Iraqi’s had left in the US occupying forces to evaporate, and drawing huge international anger. • There were a number of incidents of US brutality • For example, in 2005, 5 US soldiers raped and killed a 14-year old Iraqi girl and her family, then burned the bodies to hide the evidence • Massive civilian casualties– estimates range widely, but agree that it was over 100 000. Casualty numbers go much higher if you include soldiers • Can something with such a high cost of life really be judged as humanitarian?

  17. A Short Lesson in Hypocrisy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-jInHtu0e8&feature=related

  18. Withdrawal • In 2009, President Barrack Obama announced an 18month US withdrawal from Iraq. • On April 30th 2009, British forces withdrew, and on July 28, Australian forces withdrew • The majority of the US forces left by the 18 month deadline, however about 50 000 still remained • These remaining US forces in Iraq had fully withdrawn by 2011

  19. Weapons that Mostly Didn’t exist • The Weapons of Mass Destruction we heard so much about weren’t really there. • President Bush points now claims that they had “the capacity to produce weapons of mass destruction.” • And Bush also admitted later that the Iraq invasion had no connection to 9/11 despite his earlier claims to the contrary. • He does still acknowledge that Iraq may have had ties to terrorist organizations, but the invasion was “in no way” related to 9/11 • So…. Why’d they invade?

  20. KEY TIPPING POINTS/IMPORTANT EVENTS

  21. September 2002 Bush administration called for action “Grave and gathering danger...The condition of the Iraqi regime is a threat to the authority of the UN and a threat to peace” “Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding or will it be irrelevant?” -09/12/2002 UN Speech

  22. UN Security Council Resolution 1441 Authorized the resumption of weapons inspections and promised "serious consequences" for non-compliance “A final opportunity for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations”

  23. Failure of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 • “Iraq has been and remains in material breach of its obligations.....a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions.....a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems . . . .” Paragraph 1 • Material breach to Resolution = Material breach to UN Charter. • It did not specify what is to happen if a specially affected state at some point concludes that Iraq is not cooperating fully. • United States and its allies could argue that a material breach has occurred and nothing stands in the way of their suspension of the cease-fire that was based on Resolution 687, which has not been rescinded since 1990 and gives the authority to use “all necessary means to restore international peace and security in the area.”

  24. Failure of UN • “ Found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons program in Iraq” - IAEA Feb. 2003 • US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented to the UNSC a computer generated image of a mobile biological weapons laboratory. Video source: ABC NEWS

  25. Reactions to Powell’s presentation • Report of Hans Blix14 Feb. 2003 – Update of the situation in Iraq. More proactive in their cooperation. – Questioned the satellite images provided by Powell • Accepted as “proof” by many in the US. • Did not change the fundamental position of the SC, including France, Russia, China and Germany • UK government did not believe the links between Iraq and al-Qaeda. • 7 Mar. 2003 – report on the status of UNMOVIC’sefforts to verify Iraq’sdisarmament.

  26. Video Source: NBC Meet the Press

  27. Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq -Oct.2012 • -64% supported by Feb.2003 Video Source: PBC

  28. Numbers on Iraq • 239,000 troops at its peak in 2006 • War cost US $800 billion • Almost 4,500 Americans killed • More than 30,000 Americans Wounded • Estimate of total Iraqi deaths (civilian and combatant): 150,000+

  29. “I have indicated it (Iraq War) was not in conformity with the UN Charter. From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal.” -Kofi Annan, 16 Sep. 2004

  30. Iraq: Now • The Bush administration gave promises that the war would bring: • Improved life quality for the people in Iraq • Improved infrastructure • More jobs • Major improvement in medicinal infrastructure

  31. A Sad Reality • The economy crashed after the war, but has improved steadily since then. • The poverty rate of today is 23 percent, a harsh lifestyle for many Iraqis • A high unemployment rate combined with inflation results in hunger and poverty for around 6 millions people in Iraq • Among the top ten most corrupted countries in the world • With money, almost anyone can be bribed for most things • No public transportation

  32. Federal Government of Iraq • Islamic, democratic and federal parliamentary republic • Moved from a dictatorship under Saddam Hussein to a "democracy" • Corruption. A minister recently was forced to resign because he made a deal with a German company • Inequalities in society • High violence in the streets in Iraq • Even the police are corrupted

  33. Prime minister in Iraq: NouriKamel al-Maliki

  34. Living Conditions • During Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, the police force had total control, thus limiting street violence to a certain level • "You get what you pay for" policy in Iraq • Human rights are being violated • Tension between Sunni and Shia has increased • The Iraqi people’s main concern in modern Iraq is security, since bombings and attacks across Iraq continue to be the reality for many people • Iraqi government’s priority seems to be on improving military rather than its degrading and outrageous infrastructure system • 2011, 3 billion dollar deal with the US

  35. Water Shortages • Severe water shortages • In Bagdad, a shortage of 1 million of cubic liters of water per day • UN report regarding the water crisis in Iraq states; • " Quality of water used for drinking and agriculture is poor, violating Iraq National Standards and WHO guidelines. Leaking sewage pipes and septic tanks contaminate the drinking water network with waste water. 80 percent of households do not treat water before drinking. Furthermore, just 18 percent of waste water is treated, with the rest released directly intro waterways.”

  36. R2P Report’s Military Intervention Criteria

  37. Just Cause = 1 R2P report; "military intervention for human protection purposes is an exceptional and extraordinary measure. ” - Saddam Hussein and his regime had been known for not respecting human rights and had been responsible for several inhumane actions in past years. However, during the time of the Iraq invasion (2003), there was neither a "large scale loss of life" nor a "large scale ethnic cleansing" and nothing indicated that this would occur in the near future. Thus the intervention cannot be qualified as "just cause".

  38. Right Intentions = 1 • R2P report; "the primary purpose of the intervention, whatever other motives intervention states may have, must be to halt or avert human suffering.” - Since there were no severe pending humanitarian emergencies in Iraq at the time of the invasion, this cannot be used as a justification. - The existence of WMD in Iraq and Saddam Hussein’s potential of using them were used as another excuse (preventative war, "War on Terror”) , however several sources including UN have proved that there were no such things in Iraq.

  39. Last Resort = 1 - R2P reports state that every non-military option mustbe explored before a military intervention takes place. • At the time of the invasion, due to pressure from international community, Saddam Hussein had started to cooperate more with organizations and states. Some people might even argue that the "humanitarian" situation in Iraq saw a brighter future. Even so, the coalition forces decided to invade Iraq, so this cannot possibly be seen as a "last resort".

  40. Proportional Means = 1 R2P report; The scale, duration and intensity of the planned military intervention should be the minimum necessary to secure the defined human protection objectives." - A bigger "humanitarian emergency" occurred because of the war. Estimated civilian casualties are around 100 000. • If the "Iraqi freedom" operation were true a humanitarian one, and if the goal was to save people from oppression, why would the coalition forces chose to bomb metropolitan areas in Baghdad where innocent people were?

  41. Reasonable Prospects = 3 • R2P report; "The responsibility to rebuild; to provide, particularly after a military intervention, full assistance with recovery, reconstruction and reconciliation, addressing the cause of the harm the intervention was designed to halt or avert.” - The coalition forces, because of their more advanced equipment, tactics and their soldiers superior training and education comparing to the Iraqi military, had a significant chance of overwhelming the oppressive Saddam Hussein and his regime. • However, there was a lack of competent people and resources for the rebuilding of Iraq and the creation of a new democratic and humane government. - Young and inexperienced men (soldiers) who did not understand the Iraqi society acted as police officers. It can be argued whether this heavy responsibility and pressure on these soldiers can be a factor which resulted in several war crimes.

  42. Legitimate Authority = 1 Chapter 1, article 2, section 7 in then UN charter clearly states the non- intervention norm. However Chapter 7, article 51 gives the exception were use of force against another sovereign state is accepted in the case of self defense. But since Iraq at the time of 2003 did not use force or acted aggressive on neither the US nor the UK (and other coalitions forces) this is another reason which cannot be used as another justification of the invasion. - In 2004 Kofi Annan stated about the Iraq war; "I have indicated it is not in conformity with the UN charter. From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal." - Illegal and "illegitimate”.

  43. Bibliography • http://www.worldology.com/Iraq/iraq_war.htm • Bellamy, Alex, “Ethics and Intervention: The ‘Humanitarian Exception’ and the Problem of Abuse in the Case of Iraq” 2004 Journal of Peace Research, vol. 41, no. 2, 2004, pp. 131–147 • Roth, Kenneth, “Was the Iraq War a Humanitarian Intervention?” Journal of Military Ethics,Vol. 5, No. 2, 84/92, 2006 • Thakur, Ramesh, “Iraq and the Responsibility to Protect” GLOBAL DIALOGUE Volume 7 ● Number 1–2 ● Winter/Spring 2005 • Weiss, Thomas, “The Sunset of Humanitarian Intervention? The Responsibility to Protect in a Unipolar Era” Security Dialogue vol. 35, no. 2, June 2004 • Wheeler, Nicholas, “The Bush Doctrine: The Dangers of American Exceptionalism in a Revolutionary Age.” Asian Perspective, Vol 7, No.4, 2003 • Etc, etc

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