| The controversial war in Iraq started with | | | | |
| the US-led invasion in March 2003. The main | | | | 1. The war was not legal and was completed |
| reason offered for the proposed war was that | | | | without the backing of the United Nations. |
| Iraq has nuclear capabilities and that the | | | | Some political commentators suggest this as a |
| war would act as a means of disabling such | | | | reason for wider international backlash out |
| capabilities - thus the war would protect the | | | | with the coalition countries that |
| interests of the US and further afield by | | | | participated. |
| disarming them. Countries that were opposed | | | | |
| to the war, such as members of the UN | | | | 2. Not enough troops. The number of troops |
| security council who did not back plans, | | | | that were sent to Iraq, and that are now in |
| suggested that such fears were not correct. | | | | Iraq, is less than half of what would be |
| Another reason given for the invasion of Iraq | | | | needed to allow for a swift operation which |
| was that there was claims linking Iraq to | | | | would lead to less casualties, according to a |
| al-Qaeda - so far there has been no evidence | | | | Rand report. Some objectors comment that this |
| linking them together in anyway. | | | | shows a lack of respect for human life and |
| | | | was done as a means of lessening the |
| The invasion of Iraq was lead by a largely | | | | financial burden of the war. |
| American force, with soldiers from Australia, | | | | |
| Great Britain, Poland and Denmark also | | | | 3. Insufficient post-invasion strategy. |
| playing their role. In an attempt to restore | | | | The coalition governments did not adequately |
| peace in Iraq, the Co-coalition countries | | | | prepare an exit strategy and a means of |
| attempted to establish a democratic | | | | bringing peace to Iraq according to many |
| government. Such plans have not went as | | | | politicians and defence analysts. |
| smoothly as was hoped, and on-going violence | | | | |
| has continued despite there being troops and | | | | 4. Financial Burden. According to Reuters |
| a democratically elected government in place. | | | | news agency, the cost of the Iraq war is |
| | | | close to $2 trillion. |
| Since the invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein | | | | |
| fled the country in an attempt to avoid the | | | | 5. Iraq's oil supply has often been quoted |
| consequences that would come as a result of | | | | as a reason for the start of the war. Such |
| being caught by the coalition troops. Despite | | | | claims, if true, would be much different from |
| his best attempts, Saddam was captured in | | | | the original reasons cited as the reason for |
| December 2003 and was hanged in the same | | | | the war happening in the first place. |
| month the crimes he had committed whilst in | | | | |
| office. His trial and subsequent hanging were | | | | 6. Weapons of Mass Destruction have been |
| all completed under the Iraq interim | | | | been found in Iraq, which has made analysts |
| government. | | | | increasingly sceptical as to whether they |
| | | | were there in the first place. If indeed they |
| The Iraq war has been controversial for a | | | | were not, then this would mean that the war |
| number of reasons: | | | | was started on a false premise. |