History shapes how people interpret and remember wars. Debate over the Iraq War has been reignited by the 10th anniversary of the conflict sparked by the US invasion.
A decade on, Iraq remains a weak state. March 20, 2003, represents a painful memory for Iraqis. The war has cost trillions of dollars and claimed tens of thousands of lives. A recent Gallup survey showed 53 percent of Americans believe their country "made a mistake sending troops to fight in Iraq," while 66 percent of respondents who identified as or lean Republican thought the war was not a mistake because it ended the dictatorship led by Saddam Hussein.
Hussein's era has long been over, and Iraqis no longer have to worry about arbitrary rule. Americans who expected the invasion of Iraq to deliver Western-style democracy to the Middle Eastern country might claim success, but what's left for Iraq is a war-torn state where people struggle to find any promising opportunities.
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War, violence ebbed sharply with more than a dozen bombs exploding across Baghdad, killing at least 60 people.
Many analysts say that a democratic system is the most effective means to end war. But several wars since the Cold War have been initiated by the US. The situation in Iraq is far from one characterized by democracy, despite the beliefs of some Americans. Basic elements of a functioning democracy have hardly been fostered in Iraq since the war. And with a strong regional balance power severely weakened, the Middle East is heading toward great uncertainties. Going to war can only be justified under the core values of the American system, which is really only a shortcut to realizing American national interests.
Democracy and freedom are good slogans, but hardly applicable to a country that advocates empire-building and. The US should reflect on the consequences of the Iraq War and discuss whether its turbulence has been worthwhile or not.
It's unknown how much effort Iraqis will make to achieve the country's long-term stability and strengthen the effectiveness of their democracy, but the future may not lie in their hands.