The Iraq War in 2003 - Article Example

Debate Proposition: The Iraq War in 2003 was not worth it. Affirmative Side’s Justifications. The war waged by the United s of America, with the aid of its allied countries, namely the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland caused positive impacts to the Iraqi citizens and to the global security and was therefore, worth it. Needless to say, it is the duty of the government to protect its people from threats to personal and national security. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were Bush’s initial accusations to Saddam Hussein’s regime, based on a solid research (Abrams and Gungwu 11).

Hussein did not comply with the inspection, prompting the United Nations to draft a resolution seeking for serious consequences if the Iraqi leader dismissed the UN Security Council’s strict inspection of the alleged dangerous weapons. Now, had Hussein not cultivated nuclear weapons, he could have freely let the team inspect and let his conscience be freed. If there were no impositions of serious actions towards terrorism, Iraqi people would still remain to witness a never-ending siege of terrorism, hiding behind Hussein’s dictatorship.

Second justification, had the U.S. and its allies not launched the war, global security is at stake (Copson 4). The Al Qaeda terrorist organization has established connections with the radical leader, and the creation of nuclear weapons is a stepping stone to Iraq’s claiming to govern the world under his tutelage. The war was an indication, moreover, to other countries, which are cultivating destructive weapons to learn a lesson from the war in order for them to stop. For instance, Libyan dictator Gaddafi was reported to have ceased creating weapons of mass destruction upon knowing what happened to Saddam Hussein.

Furthermore, Iraqis were freed from the regime of Saddam Hussein, which clearly would not happen if the United States remained relaxed. It is a concession that war yields damages, both life and property. However, it is also true that the clear and present danger posed by these weapons would turn out killing millions of people than one expected if there are no actions to stop violence and terrorism. Therefore, the war in Iraq in 2003 was worth it. Negative Side’s Justifications. It is ironic to talk peace while using violence to achieve it.

This basic premise holds true to everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion and ideology. The 2003 Iraq war was an exaggerated action for an unproven claim that Iraq owns weapons of mass destructions (Prados and Ames par. 15), and posited questions to the real motive of the United States in waging the war; therefore, it is not worth it. First, the war killed, not just the alleged supporters of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, but including children and civilian citizens. If Hussein’s body is highly important, then the United States should have launched a manhunt operation against him and his supporter so as to avoid collateral damages (Abrams and Gungwu 12).

Secondly, the war was a burden to the fiduciary situation of the United States and to its allies. Curtis and Payne stated that while the world enjoyed Hussein’s loss, the cost of the war was “disproportionate” (45). Third justification, the motive of the United States was highly questionable. If the war was rested on the ground of justified reasons, there would be no other reason beyond the goal of global peace. The war was not a matter of “necessity,” but a “choice” (Harvey 1); therefore, it has clear motives.

To name it explicitly, the oil reserves served as an indication of economic domination. Inasmuch as the pro-war were convinced of the presence of nuclear weapons, anti-war was also sure that the United States, under the cloak of salvaging Iraq from dictatorship, also eyed on the rich oil reserve of the country. Fourthly, the Iraqi people were now freed from one dictator, but the leadership was governed by people with vested interests. U.S. had various allies during the war, and it is highly anticipated that economic benefits of the war are likely to be shared.

Fifthly, the war in Iraq achieved nothing. Pro-Bush claimed it made the situation in Iraq stable. Statistics showed 2 million displaced Iraqis after the war, while more than 100 thousand Iraqis died from aerial missiles, guns and bombs used by both parties (Abrams and Gungwu 13). Lastly, the war did nothing to stop the movements of the terrorist group Al Qaeda. One of the aims of the war was to break the ties between Hussein and the notorious organization. Saddam Hussein’s capture was accomplished, while Al Qaeda continues to pose a threat to the global security.

These reasons state that the 2003 Iraq war was impractical and is therefore not worth it. Works Cited Abrams, Irwin, and Wang Gungwu. The Iraq War and Its Consequences. Tuck Link, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 2003. Print. Copson, Raymond W. The Iraq War: backgrounds and Issues. New York: Novinka Books, 2003. Print. Curtis, Katherine J., and Collins F. Payne. “The Differential Impact of Mortality of American Troops in the Iraq War: The Non-metropolitan Dimension.” Demographic Research 23.2 (2010). Web.

22 October 2012. . Harvey, Frank P. Explaining the Iraq Qawr: Counterfactual Theory, Logic and Evidence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print. Prados, John, and Christopher Ames. “The Iraq War- Part III: Shaping the Debate.” National Security Archive. National Security Archive, 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. .