What was Really Accomplished with the War in Iraq?

When combat troops mostly made up of American soldiers, invaded Iraq and successfully overthrew Saddam Hussein, President George W. Bush gave a speech on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln under a banner that read "Mission Accomplished." Although the banner was incorrect in regards to the end of combat missions it was correct in that the initial objective for starting the war (the removal of Hussein from power) was accomplished. The threat of Iraq possessing and/or using weapons of mass destruction was gone but soon this threat was replaced by others that would tell the story of what really was accomplished with the war in Iraq.

Destabilization of the Region

With Saddam Hussein out of the way the Middle East region became destabilized. Before, the mere presence of Hussein was enough to keep the surrounding countries like Iran and Syria from making any aggressive moves. His unpredictable and reckless behavior (the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, gassing of Kurds in his own country after the Kuwait invasion) made him someone that others in the region feared, but with him gone other leaders like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad became emboldened.

It was not long after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government, that Iran began circulating rumors of starting a uranium enrichment program for the production of nuclear power. No greater threat could exist in the region than for one or more of the countries to possess nuclear weapons.

The removal of Saddam Hussein created a void which produced a king-of-the-hill type of atmosphere to see who would fill the vacancy and assume the position of " most feared" in the area.

Very simply, Saddam Hussein was the finger in the dike of the Middle East. With him out of the way, there was no one to hold back the flood of people who would attempt to seize the supreme position of power in the region.

Terror training Ground

Without a leader or an established government in place, Iraq was a wide open, unclaimed territory. Almost immediately after securing Baghdad, U.S. military forces found themselves engaged in guerilla warfare with insurgents within the country who were loyal to Saddam Hussein.

These rebels used unconscionable methods in fighting against American soldiers, which included using civilians as human shields and beheading captured civilian workers and soldiers.

Soon these fighters began using improvised explosive devices (IED's) to attack military convoys and blow up high profile targets like Iraqi Police stations. Schools, mosques and even hospitals were also targeted.

Iraq had become a terrorist training ground. With unbridled restraint, the terrorists who had flooded the country after the downfall of Hussein's regime, were able to test their methods of terror on live targets and monitor the results for future attacks around the world.

For all practical purposes, Iraq was now a training and testing facility for terrorist hopefuls with unlimited recruiting potential.

A Battered Country

To see Iraq today is to see a battered country. Where beautiful palaces and mosques once stood now sits rubble. Homes and neighborhoods are shambles of what they used to be.

Countless communities still have no running water and many of them have no electricity or limited electricity.
In some neighborhoods it is still difficult to find an open store to purchase everyday needs like toiletries and food. Roads and highways are obstacle courses and many parks are now wastelands of weeds and dirt.

Iraq is a shell of what it once was and it will take many years and billions of dollars to rebuild the country.

As the war continues and the fighting rages on it appears that it will be a long time before Iraq is restored to it's original luster.

Traumatized People

Aside from the death and destruction caused by war there is also the horror of war. The psychological effects of being in a war zone can be devastating and long lasting.

As the war enters it's sixth year, the death toll among civilians in Iraq is in the tens of thousands. The number of Iraqis killed has been estimated to be anywhere from 100,000 to well over 600,000 and the mental strain from the ongoing conflict can be seen in the faces of it's citizens.

Children are terrified to go to school and a simple trip to the market could end with the death of a family member. Many playgrounds are still empty and many businesses still shuttered.

Over the years, families in major Iraqi cities have had family members kidnapped, raped and murdered by rebel gangs who roamed the streets out of the reach of a scattered and thinly staffed police force.

In short, Iraq had become a haven for thugs and criminals who operated without fear of reprisal.

Though the removal of Saddam Hussein, a brutal and ruthless dictator , was a good thing many of the things that came along with it were not.

We could debate for years to come whether leaving Saddam Hussein in power would have been better than destroying the country and destabilizing the region, however there is one thing that we know for certain.....Iraq has been changed forever.