Invasion of Iraq and the Evolution of Terrorism
The Second Gulf War: Invasion of Iraq
The regime of Saddam Hussein survived the first Gulf War but faced sovereignty limitations and an economic embargo, severely damaging its economy and living conditions. The U.S., under President George W. Bush, aimed to overthrow Saddam Hussein and increase American influence. The September 11, 2001 attacks provided the pretext. Despite a lack of evidence linking Iraq to Al Qaeda or confirming the existence of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S., with limited international support, invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003. The underlying reasons included:
- Control critical oil and gas reserves.
- Neutralize a potential enemy of Israel.
- Demonstrate American hegemony.
By April 9, 2003, Baghdad fell, and the Iraqi regime collapsed. The war was brief due to the disparity in military power, with high Iraqi civilian casualties.
Terrorism
Terrorism involves violence against civilians to achieve political or ideological goals.
Factors
- Ideological or religious indoctrination.
- Depressed social and economic conditions.
- Prior conflicts or historical grievances.
The absence of democracy and freedoms can also contribute to the emergence of terrorist groups.
Background
Modern terrorism emerged in the late 19th century with European anarchist movements. In the 1960s and 70s, new groups appeared in Europe with:
- Political claims from the far left (e.g., Italian Red Brigades).
- Nationalistic claims (e.g., IRA in Northern Ireland).
ETA in Spain combined nationalist claims with a left-wing totalitarian ideology. Palestinian groups used terrorism against Israeli interests, including the 1972 Munich Olympics attack. Some states, like Libya, were implicated in terrorism, such as the Lockerbie bombing.