Top 10 Controversies From the Iraq War

After nearly nine years, the Iraq war finally came to an end. This bittersweet moment left many asking why America invaded Iraq in the first place and did we accomplish anything before we left? From the get-go, the Iraq War has been based on shaky evidence and questionable intelligence, all of which have led to the controversies we still discuss today.

1. U.S. Marines urinating video

   The most recent incident to spark controversy and criticism of the Iraq war was the release of a video showing four U.S. Marines urinating on dead Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The video was made between March and September 2011 and was released in early January 2012. The infamous video circulated around the world, provoking condemnation from the Afghan president as well as the Obama administration. The Marines featured on camera may face criminal charges.

2. Osama bin Laden killing

   The capture and killing of Osama bin Laden was a groundbreaking moment in the Iraq war. Obama said the incident was a significant moment in the United States' mission to defeat Al Qaeda and bring down the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Although it was momentous for America, there was quite a bit of controversy over his sea burial that allegedly took place within 24 hours of his death. Many questioned why the U.S. gave bin Laden a burial that was in accordance with Islamic tradition, and others wondered if any of it actually happened due to the promptness and mystery behind his burial.

3. Weapons of mass destruction

   The United States' decision to invade Iraq was fueled by the idea that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. The Bush administration vehemently backed this belief and felt that it was a direct threat to America and its allies. After years of hunting for the alleged WMD, neither the UN nor the CIA weapons inspectors were able to find any. In 2005, the investigation of WMD came to a close and Bush later admitted to jumping the gun on declaring war without feasible evidence.

4. Blackwater Baghdad shootings

   In 2007, Blackwater security personnel shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians without any justifiable reason or provocation. The controversial incident underwent thorough federal investigation and in 2011 FBI scientists could not match the bullets from the shooting to the guns used by the Blackwater guards. They also found foreign cartridges that were not linked to the U.S. military. The case was reopened in 2011, due to "systemic" errors in the district court's dismissal of the guards in 2009.

5. Attack was driven by oil

   Throughout the war, many Americans speculated that the real reason the U.S. invaded Iraq was to control the country's oil production. Officials said Saddam had planned to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and control oil shipments in the Middle East, which would have hurt the west in a big way. The Bush administration denied allegations that the invasion was motivated by oil, and was backed when not a single U.S. company secured a contract with the multibillion-dollar oil reserves in 2009.

6. Saddam Hussein execution

   The execution of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein in 2006 caused mixed reactions around the world. Ending Saddam's regime was a huge feat for the U.S., whose goal was to free Iraq from the rule of Hussein and bring democracy to the war-torn country. The United States justified its capture and detainment of Hussein because he was a threat to the nation and justice needed to be served. However, many felt it was not America's place to determine what was right for Iraq and who should lead its people.

7. Building democracy in Iraq

   One of the goals of invading Iraq was to bring democracy to the country and develop a lasting partnership with them. As the war carried on, American officials began to back away from their vision of a democracy and focused more on developing a secure and working government. Iraq experienced some glimpses of a democratic system when Saddam's regime was taken down and millions of Iraqis got to vote, but the instability of the national government and military have overshadowed Iraq's ability to become a fully functioning democracy.

8. American hostage beheaded

   In 2004, a video was released showing Islamic militants beheading American soldier, Nick Berg, on camera. The 26-year-old soldier was abducted and beheaded to retaliate for the U.S. military's abuse of Iraqi prisoners. The barbaric act was posted to a radical Islamic website and was believed to be initiated by Al Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

9. Casualty milestones

   The war in Iraq received unprecedented coverage around the world. The media came under fire for bias reporting, propaganda, and censorship. One of the most controversial topics was the reporting of casualty milestones. Many newspapers, news channels, and online publications kept a ticking tally of military personnel killed in the war and would highlight the 1,000th, 2,000th, and 3,000th casualty as a milestone. The use of casualty tallies and milestones was criticized by both supporters and opponents of the war.

10. Rationale for Iraq War

    One of the biggest controversies of the war was trying to justify why America invaded Iraq in the first place. In 2008, President Bush admitted that going to war on flawed intelligence was a "regretful" decision. White House officials adopted the belief that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, but weren't going to pull out when CIA reported that no WMD were found in Iraq. There were several different excuses as to why the U.S. invaded Iraq, but even eight years later, the real reason still remains a huge question mark.

Taken From Online Certificate Program