Iraq’s new hope

This system was tolerated during the 15 years of war because people’s first priority was survival. Now that the fighting has died down, people are starting to protest, and Muqtada al-Sadr has become the repository of their hopes. He will have a hard time living up to them.

Fifteen years after George W. Bush invaded Iraq to destroy Saddam Hussein’s imaginary ‘weapons of mass destruction,' what have the Iraqis got to show for it? There was a great deal of death and destruction (around half a million Iraqis have died violently since 2003), but they do now have a democratically elected government. Sort of.Photograph courtesy of Picryl

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

October 8, 2018

LONDON, U.K.—Fifteen years after George W. Bush invaded Iraq to destroy Saddam Hussein’s imaginary "weapons of mass destruction," what have the Iraqis got to show for it? There was a great deal of death and destruction (around half a million Iraqis have died viole...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy