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The Iraq War's Inglorious End

By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
21 December 2011

Back in February 2003 huge protest marches occurred around Australia and the world about the then threatened US invasion of Iraq.

When the mass bombing and ground troop invasion of Iraq eventually occurred the media went into frenzy about “Shock and Awe”. Every missile strike, huge explosion, bridge blown up or building destroyed was transmitted live through our TV screens, every hour, on the hour. When junior George W. Bush claimed “Mission Accomplished” two months later this was given unprecedented coverage, as well.

Now, nearly 9 years later, the media has headlines like: “No fanfare as the saviour of Baghdad flees” (Age 16/12/11); “After nine years of war, the last American soldiers leave Iraq – Then there were none” (Herald – Sun 19/12/11); “Bitter war ends with quiet border crossing” (The Australian 19/12/11); “Bell tolls for US empire in Iraq” (The Age 19/12/11); “Fingers crossed as last US troops exit Iraq” (The Australian 17/12/11); “Good riddance to U.S. Forces, says Iraqi who had Washington’s ear” (The Australian 20/12/11).

What a turn around to the war mongering glorification of destruction back in 2003.

4,500 US soldiers have been killed, thousands more wounded and maimed. Countless more Iraqis have been killed and many more left injured, with lives destroyed.

History shows the Iraq war launched on a false justification - that the Saddam Hussein regime was developing or had weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This was always known by some to be untrue. After the US invasion, it soon became clear to everyone that the WMD claim was always a lie.

Yet the US and its sycophantic ‘allies’ persisted in smashing the country to pieces. It is too kind to suggest the Iraq war was “a fool hardy diversion” from the Afghanistan war started in 2001, after the September 11, 2001 atrocity.

There was opportunist, imperial method in the madness.

The last US soldiers out of Iraq rolled into Kuwait “whooping, fist-bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief”. This wasn’t because of some great military victory they have achieved. It was because they were simply going home. ‘Shock and Awe’ had been replaced with no fanfare at all.

Australia’s role in the Iraqi debacle demands ongoing analysis, especially in terms of what real national interest was served.

The lessons of the Vietnam war of 1963-1975 have not been learnt by Australian governments.

The folly of war, its cost alone, should always have any government pressed by its constituents for a full case to answer.

No more following blindly a superpower’s lies and deceit.