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THE CHOICES PROGRAM ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ WWW.CHOICES.EDU www.choices.edu THE CHOICES PROGRAM ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ WWW.CHOICES.EDU A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq CHOICES Acknowledgments for the 21st Century A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq was developed Education Program by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program with the July 2011 assistance of the research staff of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies, scholars at Brown University, and other Director experts in the field. We wish to thank the following researchers for Susan Graseck their invaluable input: Communications & Marketing Engin D. Akarli Joukowsky Family Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History and Professor of Jillian McGuire Turbitt History, Brown University Curriculum Development Director Michael Bhatia Andy Blackadar Former Visiting Fellow Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University Curriculum Writer Keith Brown Susannah Bechtel Associate Professor (Research) Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University Curriculum Writer Sarah Massey Madeline Otis Campbell Adjunct Professor of Anthropology Roger Williams University Professional Development Director Mimi Stephens Jo-Anne Hart Professor, Lesley University Program Associate Adjunct Professor of International Studies Emmett Starr FitzGerald Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University P. Terrence Hopmann Program Coordinator Professor of International Relations Natalie Gillihan Scafidi Johns Hopkins University Video & New Media Producer Catherine Lutz Thomas J. Watson Jr. Family Professor of Anthropology and International Studies Tanya Waldburger Brown University Linda B. Miller The Choices for the 21st Century Professor of Political Science, Emerita, Wellesley College Education Program is a program of Visiting Fellow the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University for International Studies and the Office of Continuing Education Charles Tripp at Brown University. Professor of Politics with reference to the Middle East School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London The Choices Program develops curricula on current and historical Cover image and all maps by Alexander Sayer Gard-Murray. international issues and offers workshops, institutes, and A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq is part of a in-service programs for high continuing series on international public policy issues. New school teachers. Course materials place special emphasis on the units are published each academic year and all units are updated importance of educating students regularly. in their participatory role as citizens. Visit us on the World Wide Web—www.choices.edu Contents Introduction: The Largest Protest in History 1 Part I: A Brief History of Iraq 2 Iraq’s Early History 4 Iraq Under Saddam Hussein 9 The First Persian Gulf War 11 Part II: From Containment to Regime Change 14 Sanctions 15 A Policy of Regime Change 17 A New Security Strategy 19 The Road to War 21 Moment of Decision: Early March, 2003 26 Options in Brief 28 Option 1: Invade Now 29 Option 2: Contain Iraq 33 Option 3: Build a Cooperative Relationship with Iraqis 37 Option 4: Focus Our Efforts at Home 41 Part III: The War in Iraq 45 The Invasion 45 The Occupation 46 Effects of the War 49 Conclusion 56 Supplementary Resources 57 THE CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM is a program of the Watson Institute for Inter- national Studies at Brown University. CHOICES was established to help citizens think constructively about foreign policy issues, to improve participatory citizenship skills, and to encourage public judgement on policy issues. The Watson Institute for International Studies was established at Brown University in 1986 to serve as a forum for students, faculty, visiting scholars, and policy practitioners who are committed to analyzing con- temporary global problems and developing initiatives to address them. © Copyright July 2011. First edition. Choices for the 21st Century Educa- tion Program. All rights reserved. ISBN 1-60123-055-9. WWW.CHOICES.EDU ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM ■ A Global Controversy: ii The U.S. Invasion of Iraq Iraq Today Tigris Tabriz Caspian Kurtalan Sea Diyarbalor Batman Iraq TURKEY Hakkan InternationalMianeh Boundary Cizre Orumiyeh Sank Urfa Provinces Boundary Zakho Maragheh National Capital Al Oamisho Dihok Provinces CapitalZanjan Aqrah Rayat Mahabad Rivers Al Hasakah Al Huqnah DAHUK Great Zab ARBIL Oal'at Saqquez Sinjar Mosul Dizah Arbil 0 50 100 Kilometers Little Zab NINAWA 0 25 50 100 Miles As Sulaymaniyah Kirkuk Dayr az Zawr Sanandaj AT TA’MIM AS SULA- Nahr al Khobur MANIYAH Halabjah IRAN Bayji SYRIA Hamdan SALAH AD DIN Nahr Diyala Euphrates Tikrit Al Qa'im Khanaqin Kermanshah Samarra Tigris DIYALA Hadithah Ba'qubah Itam Borujerd Akashat Ar Mandali Khorramabad IRAQ Ramadi Al Fallujah Rudkhanah-ye Simareh Al Habbaniyah Baghdad Ar Rutbah AL ANBAR BAGHDAD WASIT Karbala BABIL Al Kut Tigris Al Hindiyah Al Hillah KARBALA canal Dezful JORDAN Al Hayy An Nukhayb Ad Diwaniyah Al Nahr al Gharral Amarah An Najaf AL QADISIYAH Euphrates MAYSAN Ahvaz An AN NAJAF As Samawah Nasiriyah Ar'ar DHA QAR canal Rud-e Karun AL MUTHANNA Al Basrah Khorramshahr As Salman Az Zubayr Abadan Umm AL BASRAH Qasr Al Busayyah Al Faw Rafha KUWAIT Al Jahra Kuwait Persian Gulf SAUDI ARABIA Hafar al Batin Ra's al Khalji Wack al Batin ■ CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION PROGRAM ■ WATSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, BROWN UNIVERSITY ■ WWW.CHOICES.EDU A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq 1 Introduction: The Largest Protest in History n February 15, 2003, millions of people Facing clear evidence of peril, we Oaround the world took to the streets to “ cannot wait for the final proof—the protest the United States’ plans to invade Iraq smoking gun—that could come in the and topple Saddam Hussein. Demonstrations form of a mushroom cloud.” occurred in over three hundred cities across —President George W. Bush, all seven continents—Chicago, Rome, New October 6, 2002 York, Cape Town, São Paolo, and Jakarta, just to name a few. Even the scientists at McMur- While the decision to invade Iraq ultimate- do research station in Antarctica spoke out ly lay with U.S. politicians, people all around against the war, standing on the ice with a ban- the globe had strong opinions about whether ner that read “Antarctica United For Peace.” the United States should go to war. Wars are The events of the day have been described as global issues, and the potential for war in Iraq the largest coordinated protest in world his- sparked debates throughout the world. While tory. the international community had initially rallied behind the United States government following the September 11 attacks, the masses There were, of course, the usual of people marching on February 15, with signs suspects—CND, Socialist Workers’ “ in a wide variety of languages, showed that the Party, the anarchists. But even they wide support for the United States had disap- looked shocked at the number of peared. their fellow marchers.… There were nuns. Toddlers. Women barristers. Throughout history, U.S. citizens have The Eton George Orwell Society. debated the necessity of particular conflicts. Archaeologists Against War. From the War of 1812 to the Spanish-Ameri- Walthamstow Catholic Church, the can War to Vietnam, no governmental decision Swaffham Women’s Choir…. There generates more public scrutiny and debate were country folk and lecturers, than the decision to go to war. In the spring dentists and poulterers, a hairdresser of 2003, the people of the United States faced from Cardiff and a poet from another such moment. Arguments swirled Cheltenham.” back and forth on television and in the press. —Guardian article about the protest in Politicians made claims and counterclaims. London, February 15, 2003 Citizens struggled to sort through information and clarify their opinions about what should But many people inside the United States be done. supported an invasion. Two weeks prior to the In the coming days you will read about the protests, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Pow- history and culture of Iraq, and the role the ell had presented U.S. intelligence on Iraq’s United States played in Iraqi politics during weapons of mass destruction programs and the twentieth century. You will analyze the connections with international terrorist organi- events that brought Iraq into the U.S. foreign zations before the United Nations. He argued policy spotlight, and then recreate the debate that Iraq’s tyrannical dictator, Saddam Husse- among people in the United States over wheth- in, directly threatened U.S. security. Just a year er their country should go to war. Finally, and a half after the devastating terrorist attacks you will consider the effects of that decision of September 11, 2001, many in the United on Iraq, the United States, and international States felt vulnerable to another assault. They politics. feared that their country could no longer use restraint when dealing with terrorist threats, and urged their government to do whatever necessary to protect U.S.