‘ass The United Kingdom’s Reasons For Supporting The United States Over The Invasion Of Iraq In 2003’
‘Asses the United Kingdom’s reasons for supporting the United States over the invasion of Iraq in 2003’
Since 2003 both the United Kingdom and the United states have come under scrutiny due to their controversial decision to go to war with Iraq. Under the circumstances there are strong political and moral arguments to support this decision. Human rights violations, a dictatorial regime and a brutal military presence headed by Saddam Hussein as well as the fear of WMD provides a strong case for war. However, without support from the United Nations and with the legitimacy of evidence seemingly dubious, it is necessary to define what sets Iraq apart from other rogue states and provides the British government with a reason to break the sovereignty of a nation.
The previous decade had been a time of growing tension between the West and Iraq. Since the end of the Gulf war in 1991, Saddam Hussein had continued to rule Iraq with an iron fist. UN Security Council Resolution 687 of April 1991 ceased hostilities toward Iraq under a number of conditions including the limitation of Iraqi military development and the resolution of border issues with Kuwait. Between 1991 and 2002 the UN found Iraq to be in breach of these conditions and sanctions were placed upon international trade. A major issue during this time was the belief that Iraq was not only refusing to adhere to military limitations but was actively seeking WMD and biological and chemical weapons. (Bluth, 2004, p.872)
In the build up to 2003 there are a number of international events that are necessary to consider when attempting to understand the decision made by the UK. Global terrorism, particularly since 9/11, was at the forefront of public thought. This would prove to be a primary, if ineffective tool in the attempt to gain public backing for the war. Following these attacks, almost immediately suggestions of a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein began to...
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