Reasons For The Iraq Invasion Of Iraq

No nation has rose and fell from power without the assistance and intervention of other nations. The United States would not be what it is today without the aid of France and Prussia. The World Wars would not have stated if not for the complicated alliances in the European and Western worlds. Some nations have benefited from intervention and received the gifts of democracy, freedom and wealth. Others have crumbled when militaries from other nations fought on their land, destroying their cities and causing devastation. In recent years, the Middle East has become a battleground for militant groups and governments alike in an overwhelming fight for influence in the region. Many will do anything to gain power, including exploiting religion if it

In 2001, the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were carried out by Al-Qaeda. In retaliation, the United States launched an Invasion of Iraq in 2003. The invasion was intended to oust the terror group that claimed responsibility for the attack, but soon became a full scale occupation several countries. Al-Qaeda claims to be a Sunni led operation. Although the terrorist organization acts as if it is representing the Sunni sect of Islam, scholars at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point determined that from 2004 to 2008, only 15% of the attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda killed westerners. Their report states that during this times, people of Muslim origin were 54 times more likely to die from an attack carried out by a so called Muslim extremist group (Washington Times). Although the group declared a “holy war” against the United States and its western ideals, they have massacred more of the people they claimed to represent than those they despised. Al-Qaeda used the power of the Sunni majority to gain influence in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. In this case, Al-Qaeda’s actions speak louder than their words; they are only using religious conflict as a means to gain control in Middle Eastern countries. Another terror group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, has risen from the flames of Al-Qaeda’s downfall (after the death of their leader, Osama Bin Laden in 2009). The two groups were once allies turned bitter enemies. ISIS, also a Sunni group, thrives off of the conflict between the Sunni and Shia (Paul). The group was formed from the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda, and its leaders include some of Saddam Hussein's military. The group has claimed responsibility for several acts of terror, including the bombing of a Shia mosque. The group continues to attack Shia muslims