War in IraqNo End in Sight - Response

By: Katlyn Brown

Consequences of Invading IraqThe United States, supported by the United Kingdom and a coalition of allied countries, invaded Iraq in March of 2003. The United Nations did not support the invasion. U.S. policy and the Bush Administration’s decisions to invade Iraq lead to many consequences.

The consequences now include:

4,327 American deaths and 30, 182 American wounded.

109,230 Iraqi civilian deaths.

Weakened the U.S. economy.

Weakened the U.S. military.

Disbanded the Iraqi military.

No Provisional Iraqi Government

July 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council was formed. The 25-members were chosen by the U.S. led coalition. The Iraqi Governing Council was inaugurated in Baghdad on July 13, 2003, marking Iraq's first step toward the formation of a democratic government.

In late June 2003 the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) halted all local elections in Iraq and self-rule in provincial cities and towns, opting instead to appoint mayors and administrators.

Iraqi GovernmentFollowing the ratification of the Constitution of Iraq on October 15, 2005, a general election was held on December 15th to elect the permanent 275-member Iraqi Council of Representatives.The elections took place under a list system, whereby voters chose from a list of parties and coalitions.

A parliamentary election was held in Iraq on March 7, 2010. The election decided the 325 members of the Council of Representatives of Iraq who will elect the Iraqi Prime Minister and President. The election was controversial. On January 15th, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) banned 499 candidates from the election due to alleged links with the Ba'ath Party. The election resulted in a partial victory for the Iraqi National Movement, led by former Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, which won a total of 91 seats, making it the largest alliance in the Council.

Where we are in Iraq Today-U.S. policy objectives focus on withdrawing U.S forces, but is also focusing on the important security functions that will remain in Iraq beyond 2011 and will continue to demand U.S. involvement.

-In the case of Iraq, American forces still execute at least four functions critical to a stable peace in Iraq, and these functions will not be completed entirely by year’s end. 

These security functions are:•Moderating Crises. •Security Force Development. •Self-Defense Offset. •Counter-Terrorism Support.

- The U.S. plans to restructure the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to successfully execute the security functions.

No End in Sight - ReflectionWhat surprised me the most when I viewed No End in Sight, was that U.S. troops were in Iraq without any weapons for there own protection.

What angered me the most when I viewed the documentary was that the U.S. focused on protecting the oil in Iraq and did not worry about the Iraqi civilians.

I think that the U.S. should learn from this war about decision making.

Work CitedBilmes, Linda J., and Joseph E. Stiglitz. "The Iraq War Will Cost Us $3 Trillion, and Much More - washingtonpost.com." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - washingtonpost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030702846.html>.

"Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: Iraq and Afghanistan." Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. <http://armscontrolcenter.org/policy/iraq/?gclid=COGLo5eQzqcCFVFx5QodFRxjCw>.

"Iraq Body Count." Iraq Body Count. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. <http://www.iraqbodycount.org/>.

Lendman, Stephen. "Iraq Today: Afflicted by Violence, Devastation, Corruption, and Devastation." The Baltimore Chronicle. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. <http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/042710Lendman.shtml>.

"Twenty Years Later, First Iraq War Still Resonates : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.npr.org/2011/02/24/133991181/twenty-years-later-first-iraq-war-still-resonates>.

"U.S. Casualties in Iraq." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm>.

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