Military Branch Military History Wars Iraq War

Grabs

Hearts

Comments

Iraq War

Paul Strange

@pstrange

Information on the Iraq war, capture of Saddam Hussein, and subsequent occupation of Iraq, including consequences of the war, global policy reform and other political events of the Middle East between 2003 and 2011.

Grabs

Hearts

Comments

Paul Strange

@pstrange

Information on the Iraq war, capture of Saddam Hussein, and subsequent occupation of Iraq, including consequences of the war, global policy reform and other political events of the Middle East between 2003 and 2011.

US Military Strategy in Iraq
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continues to defend his military strategy in Iraq and has reiterated there is no timetable for drawing down U.S. forces. His comments come amid accusations by a handful of retired generals who say the Pentagon failed to provide enough troops to properly secure Iraq.
http://www.cfr.org/iraq/us-military-strategy-iraq/p10434
Iran-Iraq War, Facts and Summary - History
The protracted war between these neighboring Middle Eastern countries resulted in at least half a million casualties and several billion dollars' worth of damages, but no real gains by other side.
http://www.history.com/topics/iran-iraq-war
10 Years Later: The Iraq War's Lasting Impact on U.S. Politics - CBS News
In the months leading up to the Iraq war, an up-and-coming state senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, gave a passionate speech about the looming conflict, calling it "rash" and "dumb."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-years-later-the-iraq-wars-lasting-impact-on-us-politics/
Global Policy Forum - Consequences of the War and Occupation of Iraq
This section looks at the costs and consequences of the US-UK war. The military action not only aggravated the humanitarian crisis, but also engendered major economic, political, legal, military and strategic repercussions. Pre-war speculation (often exaggerated) here yields to post-war realities.
https://www.globalpolicy.org/humanitarian-issues-in-iraq/consequences-of-the-war-and-occupation-of-iraq.html
The Deeply Mixed Results of the Iraq War - US News
The U.S. clearly defeated the Iraqi military in 2003, but came very close to losing the war from 2003-2011.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2013/03/21/the-deeply-mixed-results-of-the-iraq-wars
The Iraq War Strategy 3.0: If You Can't Win, At Least Make Money
Iraqis have a saying: "The rug is never sold" - meaning that there's always more money to be made from any transaction. American defense contractors would agree.
http://www.thenation.com/article/iraq-war-strategy-30-if-you-cant-win-least-make-money/
We Went Larping - Business Insider
Larping is surreal and awesome. Here's what it's like to put on a costume and go live-action role playing.
http://www.businessinsider.com/we-went-larping-2014-10?op=1
How The Iraq War Led To The Paris Attacks
Let's be cautious about taking advice from the invasion's cheerleaders.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paris-attacks-iraq-war-isis_us_5650e110e4b0d4093a5807ba
Iraq War - 2003-2011 - Britannica
Iraq war was aonflict in Iraq that consisted of two phases. The first of these was a brief, conventionally fought war in March-April 2003, in which a combined force of troops from the United States and Great Britain (with smaller contingents from several other countries) invaded Iraq and rapidly defeated Iraqi military and paramilitary forces.
http://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War
Seven Years in Iraq: An Iraq War Timeline - Time
A Brief History of the War - Month By Month, Quote By Quote.
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1967340,00.html
Iraq War - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
The Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict that began with the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition. The invasion regime toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. However, the conflict continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the occupying forces and the post-invasion Iraqi government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
Iraq War's Heavy Toll Outweighs Results: Our view
10 years after 'shock and awe,' sobering lessons.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/03/18/iraq-war-10th-anniversary-shock-and-awe-editorials-debates/1998155/

Comments

Iraq War
حرب العراق (Arabic)

Part of the Iraqi conflict and the war on terror

Clockwise from top left:
Iraqi National Guard troops, 2004; toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad, 2003; destroyed Iraqi Type 69 tank, 2003; U.S soldier during a leaflet drop from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, 2008; British armored vehicles on patrol in Basra, 2008; destroyed headquarters of the Ba'ath Party in Baghdad, 2003

Date	20 March 2003 – 18 December 2011 (8 years, 8 months and 28 days)
Location	Iraq
Result	see Aftermath

Belligerents

Invasion (2003)
Coalition of the willing

Kurdistan Region

Iraqi National Congress

Free Iraqi Forces^[3]

Invasion (2003)
Republic of Iraq

MEK^[4]

After Invasion (2003–11)

Iraq

MNF–I (2003–09)

After Invasion (2003–11)

Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Ba'ath loyalists

Islamic Army in Iraq

Islamic State of Iraq

Hamas of Iraq

Jaysh al-Mujahideen

1920 Revolution Brigades

Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna

Sunni insurgents

Special Groups

Commanders and leaders

Strength

Coalition forces (2003)
309,000–584,799
United States: 192,000–466,985 personnel^[5]^[6]
United Kingdom: 45,000
Australia: 2,000
Poland: 194
Peshmerga: 70,000 Coalition forces (2004–09)
176,000 at peak
United States Forces – Iraq (2010–11)
112,000 at activation
Security contractors 6,000–7,000 (estimate)^[7]
Iraqi Security Forces
805,269

Iraqi Armed Forces and paramilitary: 578,269,^[8]^{[page needed]}
Iraqi Police: 227,000)

Awakening militias
≈103,000 (2008)^[9]

Kurdistan Region
≈400,000 (Kurdish Border Guard: 30,000,^[10] Peshmerga 75,000)

Iraqi Armed Forces: 375,000^[a]
Special Iraqi Republican Guard: 12,000
Iraqi Republican Guard: 75,000
Fedayeen Saddam: 30,000

Sunni Insurgents
≈70,000 (2007)^[11]
Mahdi Army
≈60,000 (2007)^[12]^[13]

Islamic State of Iraq
≈1,000 (2008)
Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order
≈500–1,000 (2007)

Casualties and losses

Iraqi Security Forces (post-Saddam)
Killed: 17,690^[b]
Wounded: 40,000+^[19]
Coalition forces
Killed: 4,825 (4,507 US,^[c] 179 UK,^[24] 139 other)^[25]
Missing/captured (US): 17 (9 died in captivity, 8 rescued)^[26]
Wounded: 32,776+ (32,292 US,^[27] 315 UK, 210+ other^[d])^[48]^[49]^[50]^[51]
Injured/diseases/other medical*: 51,139 (47,541 US,^[52] 3,598 UK)^[48]^[50]^[51]
Contractors
Killed: 3,650 ^[53]^[54]^[55]
Wounded & injured: 43,880^[54]^[55]
Awakening Councils
Killed: 1,002+^[e]
Wounded: 500+ (2007),^[56] 828 (2008)^[66]

Total dead: 27,163
Total wounded: 117,961

Iraqi combatant dead (invasion period): 7,600–45,000^[67]^[68]
Insurgents (post-Saddam)
Killed: 26,544+ killed by Coalition and ISF forces (2003–11), excludes inter-insurgent fighting and noncombat losses^[f]
(4,000 foreign fighters killed by Sep. 2006, all causes)^[73]
Detainees:
60,000 (US and Iraqi-held, peak in 2007)^[11]
12,000 (Iraqi-held, in 2010 only)^[74]
119,752 insurgents arrested (2003–2007),^[75] of this about 1/3 were imprisoned for longer than four years^[11]

Total dead: 34,144+–71,544+
Total captured: 120,000+

Documented deaths from violence:
Iraq Body Count (2003 – 14 December 2011): 103,160–113,728 civilian deaths recorded^[76] and 12,438 new deaths added from the Iraq War Logs^[77]
Associated Press (March 2003 – April 2009): 110,600 Iraqi deaths in total^[78]

Statistical estimates
Lancet survey** (March 2003 – July 2006): 654,965 (95% CI: 392,979–942,636)^[79]^[80]
Iraq Family Health Survey*** (March 2003 – July 2006): 151,000 (95% CI: 104,000–223,000)^[81]
Opinion Research Business**: (March 2003 – August 2007): 1,033,000 (95% CI: 946,258–1,120,000)^[82]
PLOS Medicine Study**: (March 2003 – June 2011): 405,000 (60% violent) (95% CI: 48,000–751,000)^[83]

For more information see Casualties of the Iraq War.

* "injured, diseased, or other medical": required medical air transport. UK number includes "aeromed evacuations".
** Total excess deaths include all additional deaths due to increased lawlessness, degraded infrastructure, poorer healthcare, etc.
*** Violent deaths only – does not include excess deaths due to increased lawlessness, poorer healthcare, etc.
**** Sukkariyeh, Syria was also affected (2008 Abu Kamal raid).

Source : Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA license

Links
Media

US Military Strategy in Iraq
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continues to defend his military strategy in Iraq and has reiterated there is no timetable for drawing down U.S. forces. His comments come amid accusations by a handful of retired generals who say the Pentagon failed to provide enough troops to properly secure Iraq.
http://www.cfr.org/iraq/us-military-strategy-iraq/p10434
Iran-Iraq War, Facts and Summary - History
The protracted war between these neighboring Middle Eastern countries resulted in at least half a million casualties and several billion dollars' worth of damages, but no real gains by other side.
http://www.history.com/topics/iran-iraq-war
10 Years Later: The Iraq War's Lasting Impact on U.S. Politics - CBS News
In the months leading up to the Iraq war, an up-and-coming state senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, gave a passionate speech about the looming conflict, calling it "rash" and "dumb."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-years-later-the-iraq-wars-lasting-impact-on-us-politics/
Global Policy Forum - Consequences of the War and Occupation of Iraq
This section looks at the costs and consequences of the US-UK war. The military action not only aggravated the humanitarian crisis, but also engendered major economic, political, legal, military and strategic repercussions. Pre-war speculation (often exaggerated) here yields to post-war realities.
https://www.globalpolicy.org/humanitarian-issues-in-iraq/consequences-of-the-war-and-occupation-of-iraq.html
The Deeply Mixed Results of the Iraq War - US News
The U.S. clearly defeated the Iraqi military in 2003, but came very close to losing the war from 2003-2011.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2013/03/21/the-deeply-mixed-results-of-the-iraq-wars
The Iraq War Strategy 3.0: If You Can't Win, At Least Make Money
Iraqis have a saying: "The rug is never sold" - meaning that there's always more money to be made from any transaction. American defense contractors would agree.
http://www.thenation.com/article/iraq-war-strategy-30-if-you-cant-win-least-make-money/
We Went Larping - Business Insider
Larping is surreal and awesome. Here's what it's like to put on a costume and go live-action role playing.
http://www.businessinsider.com/we-went-larping-2014-10?op=1
How The Iraq War Led To The Paris Attacks
Let's be cautious about taking advice from the invasion's cheerleaders.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paris-attacks-iraq-war-isis_us_5650e110e4b0d4093a5807ba
Iraq War - 2003-2011 - Britannica
Iraq war was aonflict in Iraq that consisted of two phases. The first of these was a brief, conventionally fought war in March-April 2003, in which a combined force of troops from the United States and Great Britain (with smaller contingents from several other countries) invaded Iraq and rapidly defeated Iraqi military and paramilitary forces.
http://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War
Seven Years in Iraq: An Iraq War Timeline - Time
A Brief History of the War - Month By Month, Quote By Quote.
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1967340,00.html
Iraq War - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
The Iraq War was a protracted armed conflict that began with the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a United States-led coalition. The invasion regime toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. However, the conflict continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the occupying forces and the post-invasion Iraqi government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
Iraq War's Heavy Toll Outweighs Results: Our view
10 years after 'shock and awe,' sobering lessons.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/03/18/iraq-war-10th-anniversary-shock-and-awe-editorials-debates/1998155/