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Why did Iraq attack US?

Updated: 8/22/2023
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15y ago

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As a country, Iraq, has never attacked the US on it's own soil. However, when the United States invaded Iraq in March, 2003 the Iraqi military, under the control of Saddam Hussain responded unsucessfully. After his forces were defeated, Hussain fled; was eventually captured, tried and then hung for crimes against humanity. Most notable among these were the gasing of Kurdish settlements in the north of Iraq that led to the deaths of thousands of his own citizens. Since the defeat of Hussain's regime, the US along with its allies have occupied Iraq in an attempt to provide security and allow a newly elected government to be formed and then take control of the country.

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16y ago
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8y ago

the name for the Iraq mission is Operation Iraq Liberation or O.I.L that's the real reason

-- Just a note on the above answer, the mission was actually called "Operation Iraqi Freedom", which does not work as well with the "OIL" acronym.

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8y ago

The US attacked Iraq in 2003 based on either misformation or disinformation, and the stated reasons have changed over time.

The Initial Justification: Weapons of Mass Destruction
The primary reason given by the administration of George W. Bush was that Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, was engaged in the production or acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). These are nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons (examples are the anthrax letter attacks in the US and the Sarin gas attacks in Tokyo--neither of which had any connection to Iraq). It was suggested that Hussein might provide these weapons to terrorists to attack the US. He had already used chemical weapons sold to him by the US against Iran, and also against Iraqi Kurds. Before the war UN inspectors announced they had found no evidence of WMDs, despite unfettered access. After the war was under way, additional investigation concluded Saddam did not have WMDs.

The war continued, however, because the occupation forces of the US were attacked by Iraqi guerrillas, many ironically supported by Iran, Iraq's enemy in the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). The US supported a new democratic government within Iraq, which was opposed by various Islamic groups that traditionally held power in the country. Other factions sought to aggrandize their share of the power to be had in the new political system.

It was suggested early on the conflict was predominantly an attempt by the US to control the flow of oil from Iraq, one of the largest petroleum producers in the Middle East.

Secondary Justification: Fostering a Democracy in Iraq
Initially when the US commenced Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, it was a war against the regime in Iraq; to remove Saddam from power, as the US had failed to do in 1991. The goal of the 1991 operation was to drive Saddam from Kuwait, at which the US and its allies succeeded. When no WMDs were found, the US asserted that its mission in Iraq was two-fold: to create a modern democracy and to stop the persistent genocides that took place in that country. The US enfranchised the Shiite Majority, provided for Kurdish autonomy in the North, and assembled a Constitution for the entire Iraqi population. This is in stark contrast to Saddam Hussein who used chemical weapons on his own population and was responsible for committing genocide against the Shiite Arabs, Marsh Arabs, Kurds, Jews, Azeri, Assyrians, Yazidi, Bahai'i, and Chaldeans among others.

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8y ago

The US attacked Iraq in 2003 based on either misformation or disinformation, and the stated reasons have changed over time.

The Initial Justification : Weapons of Mass Destruction

The primary reason given by the administration of George W. Bush was that Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, was engaged in the production or acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). These are nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons (examples are the anthrax letter attacks in the US and the Sarin gas attacks in Tokyo--neither of which had any connection to Iraq). It was suggested that Hussein might provide these weapons to terrorists to attack the US. He had already used chemical weapons sold to him by the US against Iran, and also against Iraqi Kurds. Before the war UN inspectors announced they had found no evidence of WMDs, despite unfettered access. After the war was under way, additional investigation concluded Saddam did not have WMDs.

The war continued, however, because the occupation forces of the US were attacked by Iraqi guerrillas, many ironically supported by Iran, Iraq's enemy in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). The US supported a new democratic government within Iraq, which was opposed by various Islamic groups that traditionally held power in the country. Other factions sought to aggrandize their share of the power to be had in the new political system.

It was suggested early on the conflict was predominantly an attempt by the US to control the flow of oil from Iraq, one of the largest petroleum producers in the Middle East.

Secondary Justification: Fostering a Democracy in Iraq
Initially when the US commenced Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, it was a war against the regime in Iraq; to remove Saddam from power, as the US had failed to do in 1991. The goal of the 1991 operation was to drive Saddam from Kuwait, at which the US and its allies succeeded. When no WMDs were found, the US asserted that its mission in Iraq was two-fold: to create a modern democracy and to stop the persistent genocides that took place in that country. The US enfranchised the Shiite Majority, provided for Kurdish autonomy in the North, and assembled a Constitution for the entire Iraqi population. This is in stark contrast to Saddam Hussein who used chemical weapons on his own population and was responsible for committing genocide against the Shiite Arabs, Marsh Arabs, Kurds, Jews, Azeri, Assyrians, Yazidi, Bahai'i, and Chaldeans among others.

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9y ago

we did not attack iraq in the Gulf War it was the russians who did that's why we got attacked because the iraqies thought we attacked them.

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8y ago

Iraq was attacked because United States want make Muqtada al-Sadr become the hero of Iraq.

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12y ago

Oil, and nothing but oil. Bush and Cheney even stated, they had indeed invaded Iraq for oil. They knew before invading Iraq, that there were no weapons of mass destruction.

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12y ago

In the US-Iraq war, Iraqi forces used bombs along with other conventional weaponry. US Forces invaded with conventional weaponry including bombs.

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13y ago

Oil and "terrorism".

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15y ago

Because we started the war.

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Continue Learning about General History

What was the outcome of the 1991 US attack in Iraq?

Oil production in Iraq dropped


Arguments for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 include all of the following except?

intelligence reports indicated that Iraq was planning a major terrorist attack in the United States


What two countries did the US attack in the war on terror?

The US has invaded several countries during the War on Terror in whole or in part, but the two most prominent such invasions were in AFGHANISTAN and IRAQ.


Compare and contrast the us intervention in Iraq in 1991 with the us intervention in Iraq in 2003?

NO!


What was the day the Iraq started a war with the US?

Iraq never started any war with US

Related questions

What was the outcome of the 1991 US attack in Iraq?

Oil production in Iraq dropped


How did the US attack Iraq?

we just sarted to bomb the mess out of them


Wait terrorism to prevent another 911 attack. I thought it was bin laden in afhganastan that attacked not Iraq?

Bin Laden did attack us not Iraq


Why is the US Attacking Iraq?

Iraq was attacked in 2003, during the initial phase of Operation Iraq Freedom, to remove Saddam from power. Since his removal, Iraq is no longer under attack from the US. The US is attempting to RESTORE law, order, and stability to the region. The US is at war with no "nation." Only criminals (Global War on Terrorism).


Arguments for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 include all of the following except?

intelligence reports indicated that Iraq was planning a major terrorist attack in the United States


Was Mexico in Iraq?

No. Mexico never joined the coalition to attack Iraq.


Which Iraq country attack Arab in 1990?

The question as worded is nonsensical. There is only "one Iraq country", Iraq and it attacked Arabs in 1990. If you are asking "Which Arab country did Iraq attack in 1990?" the answer is Kuwait.


Why you went to war with Iraq?

Well mostly people say we went to war with Iraq because we think that they attack us which is the world trade center and the pentagon. But now we are realizing that this is all a lie and the government must be part of this attack. So we went to war with Iraq because we wanted their oil to make money.


When did iraq attack Kuwait?

In 1990


What country did Iraq attack?

Kuwait.


Which president did not have involvement in an attack on Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein in the 1990s and 2000s?

Clinton and Obama were the US Presidents in the 1990s and 2000s who did not invade Iraq and/or fight against Saddam Hussein.


Why did a US led military coalition attack Iraq in 1991?

To protect petroleum supplies and to liberate the occupied country of Kuwait.