The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 came a few years after September 11 terror attacks. Saddam Hussein was accused of harboring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and was also not ready to give up his pursuit for testing nuclear weapons. Saddam was later executed after the US forces took control of major spots in Iraq (Lyal 75).
Critique/evaluation of the covert/overt COIN operation
The Iraq offensive can be considered as one of the most heinous confrontations that the US has undertaken in the 21st century (Herring 53). The occupation of Iraq and the subsequent assassination of Saddam Hussein could be considered as acts of atrocity because the alleged WMDs were never found as earlier alleged by the US.
Secondly, Saddam was accused of accommodating international terrorists in Iraq and that he was closely cooperating with some of most wanted terror gangs such as the Al Qaeda. Whereas such claims were not substantiated after Iraq was taken over by the US forces, it is still surprising that the US forces are adamant to leave Iraq up to date due to the ‘fear of bloodbath that may take place in their absence’. This rhetoric has been used for almost nine years since the war in Iraq was concluded.
It is understandable that governments across the world should forge a common front towards fighting acts of terror. Better still, manufacturing weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear bombs should be prohibited at all costs in order to safeguard the face of humanity. Needless to say, the effectiveness of the methods being used to combat such atrocious acts should also questioned.
The security and humanitarian challenges being faced in the 21st century demand terse and most efficient remedial solutions (Ikenberry 104). For example, the war against terror cannot be won through selfish ambitions. Sobriety and adequate planning are required in order to effectively engage international criminals. One of the most effective action plans that can be employed is to safeguard our individual territorial borders. It is almost impossible to fight terrorism overseas without checking and monitoring homeland security. Ever since the invasion of Iraq, the US authorities have reacted by combating terrorism overseas while leaving the American public under high state of vulnerability.
As a self-appointed international watchdog, the US government is also supposed to be a role model to other sovereign states across the globe. Most political theorists and scientists concur that acts of terror have escalated in the 21st century mainly due to the increasing level of dissatisfaction in the eastern hemisphere. In response to the US autocratic policies across the world, several terror gangs have emerged. They are primarily retaliating against the draconian policies set up by the US government. As it stands now, terrorism can only be combated if consensus and mutual understanding are given a chance. It is surprising to mention that the US has been on the forefront towards advancing democratic ideas while it is not propagating the same ideals when it comes to its foreign policy.
In the case of countries that manufacture nuclear weapons, it is high time the international community acknowledged the growing tension across the globe as well as the urgent need to enhance global peace and security. As a matter of fact, the outbreaks of the First and Second World Wars were largely as a result of continued tension and aggression among independent states.
In conclusion, it is worth to emphasize that the US occupation of Iraq in 2003 and its continued military presence have destabilized peace in the entire of Middle East region. The proactive measures pointed out in the above analysis can indeed remedy the current challenges.
Works Cited
Herring, George. From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1776. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, Print.
Ikenberry, John (ed). American Foreign Policy: Theoretical Essays (6th ed.). New York: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.
Lyal, Sunga. Dilemmas facing INGOs in coalition-occupied Iraq. Oxford: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.