THE 2003 INTERVENTION IN IRAQ: CAUSES, PURPOSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

Due to its importance, the Middle East, including Iraq, has been a conflict zone in almost all periods of human history. Political, economic, cultural, social and ethnic diversity used to enhance clashing political and economic interests. The availability of natural resources, the absence of demo-cratic regimes, the region's rich national resources were behind emerging regional conflicts and in-ternational encroachments that and turned The Near East into one of the most unstable regions in the world. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, the United States, a superpower of the world with specific interests in the region, under the pretext of fighting terrorism sent its troops to Afghanistan and then to Iraq. The "World Gendarmerie" has declared that Iraq is a threat to the whole world. For this reason, the US government has put forward baseless claims such as Iraq's connection with the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and the presence of biological and chemical weapons in the country. The counter-propaganda carried out by the United States in the Iraqi army and the Iraqi people was one of the reasons that also contributed to the outbreak of the war. The Iraq war began on March 19, 2003, with George Bush's announcement, address to the world and on may 1 of that year, was declared to have ended. Later, Saddam Hussein was captured and executed. Although the war ended, the US presence in the country continued for few years more and actually ended in 2011. After the occupa-tion, no biological or chemical weapons were found in the country. It has also been proven that Sad-dam Hussein had no connections with Al-Qaeda. The invasion of Iraq has gone down in history as a failed step policy by the US and coalition forces. Contrary to expectations, the country has become the center of conflict and war.