Iraq

How Did We Get Here?

On March 20, 2003, the United States, the U.K. and a Coalition of allies invaded Iraq and overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein.

Despite the “mission accomplished” speech delivered by President Bush on May 2, 2003, the occupation and violent conflict continues in to its fifth year with no end in sight.

Bush lied to get us and the global community to get us into this war. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and this is not the most important front in the War on Terror. Various other members of the administration helped push this lie by reiterating the supposed ties between Saddam and al Qaeda, pressuring the CIA to report that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, or by serving as a mouthpiece in hyping the Iraq threat.

There is evidence that the idea to stage an Iraq war has been brewing long before 9/11. A document released by the Project for a New American Century in 2000 shows that various prominent members of Bush's cabinet intended to take military control of the Gulf region whether or not Saddam Hussein was in power.

Where We Are Now

  • As of March 2008, days after the fifth anniversary of the start of the war, the U.S. death toll has reached 4,000. Iraqi civilian causalities are estimated to be as high at 600,000.
  • Millions are displaced, several of Iraq's cities lie in ruins, and enormous resources have been squandered.
  • The so-called “Coalition of the Willing” is now waning, as more leaders of countries in the original coalition of allies have either been defeated due to public unpopularity or have pledged to withdraw troops.
  • The standing of America on the international scene and our relationships with long-standing allies have been badly damaged, particularly after the images of torture taking place at Abu Ghraib prison were revealed in April of 2004.
  • Despite the claims that Iraq is the “central front in the war on terror” and that the occupation is necessary to keep Al Qaeda on the defensive,, the Iraq war has made us less safe. Al Qaeda has reconstituted itself, and conducted significant operations in Iraq only after our occupation of that country. The war has made terrorism worldwide increase sevenfold.
  • The Iraq war has overstretched our armed forces. The U.S. military isn't ready for a catastrophic attack on the country, and National Guard forces don't have the equipment or training they need for the job, according to a report.
  • Some of the largest antiwar protests this nation has ever seen have taken place before and after the start of the occupation, and yet our voices were not heeded.

Why students have an important role to play

  • From protesting student fee hikes, to resisting the war in Vietnam, students all over the world have participated in — and been at the forefront of — mass political movements.
  • Those fighting—and dieing—in Iraq are largely between the ages of 18 and 25. These are our brother, our sisters, and our friends and fellow students. We have the most to lose. Low-income and young people of color communities are also especially impacted because they continue to serve in disproportionate numbers. Not only are we paying for this war with our lives, we will be paying in other ways for years to come.

Get Involved: Launch an antiwar campaign on your campus or in your community

Here are some ideas. If you need training, funding, or any help implementing any of these campaigns, email us.

  • Campus Divestment: Demand that your university endowment or Board of Trustees withdraw from its investment portfolio holdings in weapons-making industries or companies with financial holdings in Iraq. Some companies include Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, but also any that contribute revenue to contractors in Iraq.
  • Congressional Pressure: Lobby your elected officials if they are not voting to end the war, establishing a firm timeline for withdrawal, or supporting any other angle of the war that matters to you (veteran’s benefits, refugee crisis, permanent bases, etc.). Try letter writing (provide a self-addressed stamped envelope), phone banking (set up tables with phones so students can call their representatives and flood their offices with calls), have students write a letter in exchange for free baked goods.
  • Public Education / Awareness / Visibility: Provide the public with information about the ongoing Iraq war, and make sure your campus and surrounding community have the facts straight. Don’t let your community forget about how this war impacts their lives. Create an eye-catching image and plaster it all over campus, film-screenings, panel discussions. Include Iraq war veterans (some may be students at your school!) and community anti-war organizations.

Tell us your story

Are you a veteran of the Iraq war? Is someone in your family or close circle of friends serving in Iraq after being redeployed for the third or fourth time? Do you feel the impacts of the war in your local community? Are you organizing against the war on your campus?

Share your stories on our website. Check out our contributor page for tips on how to pitch your story or write about it by starting a Campus Progress blog. We want to help you get your story

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