““No End in No End in Sight”Sight”

The Iraq The Iraq WarWar

By Olivia PatteeBy Olivia Pattee

Brief History of IraqBrief History of Iraq Formerly Mesopotamia, site of the earliest Formerly Mesopotamia, site of the earliest

developmentsdevelopments S. Iraq was formerly Sumer, the earliest known S. Iraq was formerly Sumer, the earliest known

civilizationcivilization Republic established in 1958Republic established in 1958 Ba’ath party gained power Ba’ath party gained power

in 1963in 1963 General Saddam Hussein was givenGeneral Saddam Hussein was given power in 1979power in 1979 Eight year war with Iran from 1980Eight year war with Iran from 1980 to 1988 due to territorial disputesto 1988 due to territorial disputeshttp://gulf-law.com/iraq_map.html

Iraq WarIraq War The US invaded Iraq in 2003,The US invaded Iraq in 2003, after a terrorist attack in 2001,after a terrorist attack in 2001, to remove dictator Saddam to remove dictator Saddam

Hussein and the Ba’ath party Hussein and the Ba’ath party from power: “Operation Iraqi from power: “Operation Iraqi Freedom”.Freedom”.

Troops were originally welcomed, they were later resented Troops were originally welcomed, they were later resented by the Iraqi people.by the Iraqi people.

““De-Ba’athification” ensued; all members of the Ba’ath De-Ba’athification” ensued; all members of the Ba’ath party were rendered unemployed and unable to get work.party were rendered unemployed and unable to get work.

No interim Iraqi government was established by the US, No interim Iraqi government was established by the US, causing nation-wide chaos.causing nation-wide chaos.

The Iraqi Military was disbanded, bringing the total The Iraqi Military was disbanded, bringing the total unemployment rate to about 50%.unemployment rate to about 50%.

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Iraq War contd.Iraq War contd. Total American deaths: 4,427 (3,496 inTotal American deaths: 4,427 (3,496 in combat)combat) Total Americans wounded: 32,900Total Americans wounded: 32,900 Total Iraqi civilian deaths: 107,594 Total Iraqi civilian deaths: 107,594

(extremely underestimated)(extremely underestimated) Total Cost of War to date: at least $3 trillionTotal Cost of War to date: at least $3 trillion In 2007, President Bush increased the number of In 2007, President Bush increased the number of

troops in order to secure Baghdad, this is known as troops in order to secure Baghdad, this is known as “the surge”.“the surge”.

President Obama ended Operation Iraqi Freedom, and President Obama ended Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as of August 2010, only 50,000 troops remain in Iraq.as of August 2010, only 50,000 troops remain in Iraq.

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The movie “No End In Sight”The movie “No End In Sight” Charles Ferguson’s “No End In Sight” provided Charles Ferguson’s “No End In Sight” provided

information about the war in Iraq, mainly information about the war in Iraq, mainly the plan, or lack thereof, the Bush the plan, or lack thereof, the Bush administration created to invade Iraq.administration created to invade Iraq.

It showed not only the policies of the It showed not only the policies of the United States government, but the United States government, but the consequences on the Iraqi people.consequences on the Iraqi people.

What surprised me was that it seemed as ifWhat surprised me was that it seemed as if all planning was done without thinking of what all planning was done without thinking of what

the effects on the Iraqi people could be.the effects on the Iraqi people could be. I believe every American should know the exact I believe every American should know the exact

consequences of the war in Iraq, both on the consequences of the war in Iraq, both on the people of America and the people of Iraq.people of America and the people of Iraq.

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Works CitedWorks CitedGriffis, Margaret. "Casualties in Iraq - Antiwar.com." Griffis, Margaret. "Casualties in Iraq - Antiwar.com." Antiwar.comAntiwar.com. .

N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. <http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/>.<http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/>.

"Iraq Body Count." "Iraq Body Count." Iraq Body CountIraq Body Count. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2010. <http://www.iraqbodycount.org/>. <http://www.iraqbodycount.org/>.

"Iraq - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." "Iraq - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaencyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq>.

No End in SightNo End in Sight. Dir. Charles Ferguson. Perf. Barbara Bodine, Linda . Dir. Charles Ferguson. Perf. Barbara Bodine, Linda Blimes, Chris Allbritton, Faisal al-Istrabadi. Magnolia, 2007. DVD.Blimes, Chris Allbritton, Faisal al-Istrabadi. Magnolia, 2007. DVD.

US Department of State. "Iraq ." US Department of State. "Iraq ." U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of State. N.p., n.d. . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6804.htm>.Web. 1 Nov. 2010. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6804.htm>.