The US invasion of Iraq succeeded in toppling the Baathist regime of President Saddam Hussein, but 20 years on, it clearly failed to achieve its proclaimed goal of bringing freedom, security, democracy, and prosperity to Iraq and its people.
Rather, it created a whole new set of problems. It imposed structures and institutions that are neither representative nor effective; it deepened human insecurity and introduced other kinds of instability; and it denied the prospect of long-term sustainable socio-economic development.
In other words, it created structural deficiencies and systemic impediments that shackled and denied the transformative capabilities of the Iraqi people.
Written by Alaa Tartir & Shivan Fazil
Published at The Middle East Eye, 20 March 2023
Alaa Tartir, Program Director of Al-Shabaka, Engaged Scholar, Global Citizen 