The U.S. Leaves a Legacy in Iraq: Torture, Corruption and Civil War

Going to war and invading another country is certainly a serious and very complicated task done only with the best and brilliant minds. On March 20, 2003, the U.S. armed forces initiated a military campaign against Iraq with the aim of disrupting the terror network and seizing weapons of terror and mass destruction. It was a well-coordinated and well-planned attack that saw the use of modern high precision military hardware and effective military tactics. With the world watching in awe, the world’s only remaining superpower showed the very reason for its dominance.

And now after 8 grueling months of intense battle and dramatic scenes, the last batch of U.S. troops that faithfully served the war is finally leaving the country. Many questions still remain especially with regards to the reasonability of the war and the success it has done. With over 4000 U.S. personnel deaths, 31, 827 wounded in action and an ever growing insurgency, many are still convinced that the U.S. fought an unwinnable and irrational war. Facts show us that the insurgency today is more willing and more determined to kill compared to the insurgency faced by the invasion forces.

But perhaps the most destructive stain the U.S. has brought to Iraq is the plague of Al Qaeda. The invasion caused a massive civil war which explains the existence of mercenaries and insurgent groups threatening to create havoc and bloodshed all across the country. Almost every day, there is at least an Iraqi or an allied soldier who gets killed by attacks from insurgency. It also resulted in widespread corruption with government funds going unaccounted. And worst of all, the number of human rights violation soared so high that torture became a norm for punishment.

It is also good to take note that America is leaving 50,000 troops to teach and train the Iraqi army. These troops will definitely be attacked and be forced to also defend themselves. Just recently, a suicide bomber blew himself just outside an army recruiting center killing over 60 Iraqi recruits. It clearly shows the danger faced by those troops and the degree of civil unrest that U.S. forces left in Iraq. It is also quite disheartening that there are now over 1 million Iraqi’s who lost their life since the conflict started.

The U.S. fully believed that they have achieved victory in this war. What they don’t know is that millions more are suffering because of their wrongdoings. The legacy left by U.S. forces in Iraq is not really honor but torture, corruption and civil war instead.