EFFECTS OF WAR IN IRAQ

Introduction
The US-led war against Iraq (Second Gulf War) and “Operation Iraqi Freedom” begun in March 20, 2003 when Iraq was invaded by multinational forces led by troops from the United States under the Administration of Gorge Bush and the United Kingdom under the administration of Tony Blair. The war resulted to an occupation that led to the capture of Saddam and the eventual trial and execution by the newly formed Iraqi government.
Prior to the invasion both administrations stated above asserted that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction which they argued that threatened their security and that of their regional allies. In 2002, United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that Iraq cooperates with the UN’s Weapons Inspectors which Iraq readily complied (Ahmed, 2003). The Council conducted their inspection but no evidence was found to implicate Iraq to being on possession of weapons of mass destruction but additional time for conclusive verification of the initial investigation was not conducted.
The US-led Iraqi Survey Group concluded that there was no nuclear, chemical or biological programs that were active at time of their investigation but stated that Iraqi intended to resume them after the UN lifted the sanctions it has imposed in Iraq.
Another reason for the war was that some US officials had accused Iraqi president Saddam Hussein of connections with the Alqaeda which claimed to be responsible for the September 11 terror attacks on US . In addition to above reasons, the official also claimed that Saddam financed the families of the Palestinian suicide bombers, and the governmental human rights in pledge of spreading democracy.
Other miscellaneous reasons for US and UK engaging in the Iraqi war were: To obtain intelligence of the Militant works in Iraq, to eliminate militants that would be found in Iraq during the war, to assist in distribution of humanitarian aid, to secure the Iraqi petroleum infrastructure and finally to create a US-UK compliant government representative that will be a role model for the rest of middle east nations (Phillips, 2004).
Effects of the Iraqi war
The Iraqi war caused both negative and positive effects to Islamic countries. Few countries supported the invasion but received heavy criticism from majority of Islamic states which termed it as involvement if western countries in infringement of their democratic rights (Kristol & Kaplan, 2003).
The Iraqi war caused immense civilian and combatant deaths, illness and injuries from both conflicting groups. Many troops from the Invading forces as well the militants lost their lives in the line of duty, especially casualties of the by air strikes and drone attacks on heavily militant guarded targeted territories (Braude, 2003). Many Iraqi civilians were killed during the invasion.
According to the polls conducted by the Arab American Institute in 2007 indicated that most of Islamic countries had a negative attitude towards US role in Iraq. The poll results showed that: 68% of Saudi Arabians had a negative view; 96% of Jordanian population had negative views; 70% of the United Arab Emirates population and 76% of the Lebanese population also described their view as negative.
The war led to humanitarian crises including increase in the number of orphaned children (5million) according to Iraqi government in 2007.Also it states that the level of health has deteriorated to state never seen since 1950’s. The war increased level of malnutrition from19% before the war to 28% after there war. Moreover its says the 68% of Iraqis can not access safe drinking water and this poor water quality has led to outbreak of cholera in northern Iraq.
The war also led to adverse abuse of human rights and worldwide outcry on the need for super power countries to reduce their engagement in war.
Insurgents have beefed up their attacks after the Iraqi war and were mostly targeting the Shia community, diplomats and diplomatic facilities and increased suicidal attacks against civilians through in market places and other locations reachable by car bombs (Dreyfuss & Vest, 2004). According to the poll conducted by BBC world service on January 2007, more than 26,000 in 25 countries, 73% of the global population disapproved of US handling of the Iraq war.
Finally the Iraqi war affected the already stained diplomatic relations between United States and Islamic stronghold states like Iran and most of oil OPEC countries as these Islamic states perceived the attack as an excuse for United States to control petroleum producing in Middle East region which is world largest producer of crude oil.
References
Ahmed, N.M. (2003). Behind the War on Terror: Western Secret Strategy and the Struggle for Iraq. USA. New Society Publishers.
Braude, J. (2003). The New Iraq: Rebuilding the Country for Its People, the Middle East and the World, New York City.: Basic Books.
Dreyfuss, R. & Vest, J. (2004). The Lie factory. California: Mother Jones.
Kristol, W. & Kaplan, L.F. (2003). The War over Iraq: Saddam's Tyranny and America's Mission, New York City. Encounter Books.
Phillips, P. (2004). Censored 2004: The Top Twenty-Five Censored Stories. New York.: Seven Stories Press.