Yousif Taha

Access Program Group x

November 7, 2010

Did the American forces bring changes to Iraq?

Everything is OK. Why did America invade Iraq? The American invasion to Iraq is

representing a turning point in the history of Iraq policy. The invasion of Iraq began on

March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United

Kingdom invaded Iraq. After approximately three weeks of fighting Iraqi government was

toppled and a US-led occupation of Iraq began. After Iraq occupation, many things have been

changed like the way that the government functions, economy, Iraq's relationship with other

countries, and many other things. America claimed its invasion of Iraq was to overthrow

Saddam's regime and to eliminate the mass destruction weapons that never been existed. But

Iraqis are still wondering weather did the invasion of their country useful or not? This paper

will pursue two aspects of the main topic, how the changes happened in Iraq security

situation and economy situation after American invasion to Iraq in 2003?

After American invasion to Iraq in 2003 the security situation in Iraq became

worse. The Iraqi security situation heads to worst because the American troops left Iraqi

border opened and unguarded, which gave Al-Qaeda opportunity. Also, when the American

troops invaded Iraq, they eliminated the ministries of Internal Affairs, Defense, and their

affiliates which affected in the internal situation of Iraq.The life expectancy has declined

after American troops invaded Iraq. It was an average approximately about 65 years in 1978,

but in 2006 has declined to 52.2. (Musings of Iraq, August 25, 2009). The explosions are

playing a significant part in influencing Iraqis life expectancy. For example, the ranks of the
dead Iraqis since the U.S. occupation are more than 655,000 according to a team of American

and Iraqi epidemiologists. (Writer, October 11, 2006). And more than 4200 American soldiers

have been died since U.S invasion 2003. (Aljazeera, December 2, 2008). The Iraq security

situation has declined after American invasion, and all numbers and statistics above give us

evidence about how the security situation has been affected by the U.S. occupation.

After the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the economic status has declined. There are many

reasons and causes beyond Iraqi economy recession. First administrative corruption, the Iraq

ranked second in the list of most corrupt countries, which consider the significant reason of

the Iraqi economy retreat (Yusuf, October 17, 2010). Also, when American troops invaded

Iraq, all Iraqi factories stopped working, these factories used to produce, vegetable oil, bricks,

cement, iron, and leather, so that the Iraq's economy became totally depend on Iraqi oil,

which generated another phenomenon which is economic recession. In addition, the

economic recession caused a high rate of unemployment among Iraqis, and dramatically

affected on the Iraqi economy. Iraq is considering the most inflation country among 22

Arabic countries after American invasion. For example, the rate of inflation is (64.8%) in

2006 according to the statistics issued by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of

the Organization of the United Nation. (Shaqlawi, 2010). For instance, according to the

statistics of the International Monetary Fund, published in 2009, approximately 22% of Iraqi

citizens are living under the poverty line. The details above can show us how the Iraqi

economy affected by the American invasion.

Finally, despite all what happened, we can not ignore the American role in changing

Iraqi regime from dictatorship to democracy. Also, providing the rights of independently

voting for Iraqi citizens to the list that they want, and candidate whoever they want. In

addition, the American invasion was contributed in evolving the foreign investment in Iraq.

The other thing that made the security in Iraq declined is the Iraqi politicians. The Iraqi
politicians never gave concessions to each other, which probably was the reason behind not

forming the government that its elections lasted for eight months. The Iraqi government

should form a commission to limit the administrative corruption, as it was one of the reasons

of Iraq's disciplined through the last couple years. Moreover, re-running all factories at full

capacity to reduce unemployment and inflation at the same time. The solutions above could

enhance Iraq situation to reach a state of political and economic stability.

Bibliography:

Aljazeera. (December 2, 2008). Bush regrets Iraq war intelligence. US president says he was
"unprepared for war" on Iraq. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/12/20081228012267354.html

In this article condemned the war on Iraq and said it was not wise because it caused
many deaths between American solders and caused harmful to their families.

Shaqlawi, A. (2010). Causes, effects and solutions proposed for them. The phenomenon of
inflation in the Iraqi economy. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from
http://www.alitthad.com/paper.php?name=News&file=article&sid=69683 (my
translation).
This article discussing Iraq economical situation after American invasion and Iraq
economic declined after the invasion. And discussing the corruption in the Iraqi
government and how it affects on the economy and discussing the inflation in Iraq and
caused and consequences behind it.

Writer, S. (October 11, 2006). Study Claims Iraq's 'Excess' Death Toll Has Reached
655,000. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wdyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006
101001442.html
This article is discussing the deaths between Iraqi people and how the security
situation becomes worse and give a number on the Iraqi deaths.

Life In Iraq After and Before The Invasion. (August 25, 2009). Musing On Iraq. Retrieved
November 3, 2010, from

http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2009/08/life-in-iraq-before-and-after-

This article is discussing the Iraq situation after and before the American invasion like
economy changes, and how the life expectancy decreased after American invasion.

Wing, J. (30 August 2009). Life In Iraq Before and After The Invasion. Retrieved October 31,
2010, from http://www.epic-usa.org/node/5620
Also, this article is discussing the Iraq situation after and before the American
invasion like economy changes, and how the life expectancy decreased after
American invasion and the deaths between infants and security situation affection.

Yousif, A. (October 17, 2010). Academy of International Anti-Corruption in Iraq. Retrieved

October 21, 2010, from
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/EXERES/08A45BFA-02AB-4EB8-9035-
A9DEFEFD3EB4.htm(my translation).
This article is discussing the corruption in the Iraqi government and give example
about is the Iraq ranked in the second of list the most corruption countries.