Dark political games involving human sacrifice have always excited the minds of the common man in the street. The events of 2003 were hotly discussed by the public, but no one has come to a consensus until now. To try to understand the reasons for the US invasion of Iraq will have to turn to the source of our wisdom - history.
The American-Iraqi war of 2003, if you can call it that, was the result of "big political games" and numerous local conflicts that originated in the distant 80s.
Background to the conflict
In 1980, the newly minted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein decided to end territorial disputes with Iran. Supported by the United States and the USSR, on September 22, without declaring war, he sent his troops into Iranian territory. This is how one of the longest wars of the 20th century began.
At the same time, the Soviet Union defended democracy and the current government in Afghanistan with a limited contingent. The main opponents of the Democratic Party were dushmans and other radical Islamic formations in this distant hot country. Later, Islamic groups from other regions began to flock there.
American President Jimmy Carter, dissatisfied with the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan (1979), almost immediately gave appropriate orders, and soon one of the most expensive and secret CIA operations, Cyclone, began.
US intelligence agencies actively sponsored Afghan militants, including the group of then little-known Osama bin Laden. Formally, the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan and the US subversive activities directed against the USSR caused the birth of such a monster as Al-Qaeda. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989, bin Laden declared jihad to the entire Western world, especially the Americans.
Occupation of Kuwait
By that time, the Iranian-Iraqi war had already ended. In early August 1988, Iran, finally exhausted, agreed to negotiations for peace. Iraqi President Hussein loudly declared this a personal victory and set about negotiating terms. The peace agreement was signed on August 20. Both countries suffered irreparable losses in the war, and in order to somehow compensate for the unprofitable massacre, the inspired Saddam accused Kuwait of stealing oil from their territories … And he got involved in a new war.
By the way, the next conflict lasted only two days, the Kuwaiti troops were defeated and the Iraqi army calmly occupied the country. The occupation of Kuwait created big problems for the countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. The incumbent king of the country, Fadhu, repeatedly offered his assistance in ensuring the defense by bin Laden, who was then in the country. Fadh refused such an offer and agreed to cooperate with the United States.
In August 1990, a UN resolution was adopted that called on the Iraqi government to liberate Kuwait. At the same time, an embargo was imposed on the supply of arms to Iraq. On August 8, US President George W. Bush personally demanded that Hussein withdraw his troops. At the same time, a special operation of the United States and its allies began, which was named "Desert Shield". From August to November, allied military equipment, including aviation, began to arrive in Saudi Arabia. At the end of November, the UN signed a document allowing to apply any measures against Iraq within the framework of the UN Charter.
On the night of January 18, 1991, the multinational force began bombing Iraq. In just two days, about 4,700 sorties were flown, during which time the airspace was completely taken over by the allies. A large number of military installations were destroyed. Active bombardment was carried out until February 23, every day the aircraft took to the air, making about seven hundred sorties a day.
On February 24, the multinational forces began a ground operation and began to actively move inland, which forced the Iraqi army to cease resistance. By the end of February, the Allied forces had won an unconditional victory. Hussein agreed to fulfill the requirements of the UN and liberated the territory of Kuwait.
Role of Al-Qaeda
This was the end of the Gulf War, but Osama bin Laden started his invisible war. Underestimated by the American special services, and later declared by them the "terrorist number one", Osama launched active operations in the 90s. One of the first attacks was carried out in 1992 in Yemen - the bombing of a hotel where American soldiers were stationed. In 1993, there was an explosion in the underground garage of the World Trade Center. Also terrorist attacks rang out in Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
But perhaps the worst terrorist attack in history occurred on September 11, 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people. A group of 19 terrorists hijacked four passenger liners, two of them were sent to the towers of the World Trade Center. One plane crashed into the Pentagon. Another fell in a field 240 kilometers from Washington.
The US intelligence services identified all the participants in the attack and came to the conclusion that al-Qaeda was behind the attack, and they also found traces leading to Iraq. Later, these guesses were indirectly confirmed by bin Laden himself. In fact, this event, striking in its inhumanity, launched the process of overthrowing Sadamm Hussein.
US invasion of Iraq
The American military invasion of Iraq, supported by the UK, Australia, Poland and Iraqi Kurds, began on March 20, 2003. Hussein's connection with the terrorists was voiced as an official reason, and the development of weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear) on the territory of Iraq was listed among the main reasons.
Active hostilities lasted for several weeks, until April 12, when Baghdad was taken. Until May 1, US forces suppressed the remaining small pockets of resistance from the Iraqi military. Saddam Hussein had left the capital by that time and was hiding in small settlements that remained loyal to their president. He would later be declared a war criminal, caught and executed.
Reasons for the invasion
Immediately before the invasion, its official reason was called the development of nuclear weapons on the territory of Iraq. Many American politicians and the military have made reports on this threat. Later it turned out that there was no nuclear program in Iraq, but impressive stocks of chemical weapons of mass destruction were discovered, which, according to a UN resolution, Hussein was supposed to destroy. Equipment for the production of chemical weapons was also found, which also went against the resolution.
In the aftermath of the sad events of September 11, the US government increasingly accused Iraq of links to al-Qaeda, especially after bin Laden's statements. Secret CIA documents released later dispelled these accusations - no one was able to unequivocally prove Hussein's connection with bin Laden. Moreover, the American special services found out that the "terrorist number one" offered his help to Hussein in 1995, but he refused.
Despite the denial of contacts with al-Qaeda, Iraq's ties with small radical Islamic groups in the Middle East, including a small branch of al-Qaeda, which were located in Iraq, were proven.
The world media called another reason for the invasion - allegedly, thanks to the occupation, the Americans would gain complete control over Iraq's resources, including the coveted oil. Contrary to popular belief, the US government had no influence over the production and sale of Iraqi oil. Local authorities themselves negotiated and concluded deals with foreign investors. British and Chinese companies were among the first to enter the unsafe region. Later, the Russian Lukoil joined them.
Well, perhaps the most insane idea promoted by various populists and scandalous journalists is George W. Bush's personal dislike for Hussein, a kind of vendetta, for the implementation of which he carefully prepared for several years.
Aftermath of the invasion
Perhaps the most terrible product of this strange and bloody war was the emergence of the "Islamic State", which still terrifies the whole world. A weakened and fragmented Iraq has become an excellent springboard for the birth of this monster.
As for the consequences for the people of Iraq, they are extremely sad. There is still a struggle for power in the country, and while large oil companies are pumping oil, hundreds of civilians are dying on the streets of cities. After the withdrawal of the American contingent from Iraq in 2011, the situation only worsened, clashes between the opposing groups began to flare up more and more often, and ISIS, banned around the world, including in Russia, intensified.
Despite the nightmare in which peaceful Iraqis live, the world's attention has long since shifted to events in Syria, and more recently in Venezuela. Unfortunately, few people care about the fate of civilians - while the “big people” are playing the next game, the common man with a sinking heart watches the next dark political game in which he can become an ordinary pawn, a faceless figure from the list of victims of the next war.
