The invasion of Iraq
Graded Assignment
To Invade or Not to Invade
Complete and submit this Graded Assignment by the due date to receive full credit.
Score
1. The invasion of Iraq was very controversial. Many editors and columnists voiced strong opinions on the Iraq War. Use your knowledge of current events and the information in your textbook to write two short editorials. One should state why the United States should have invaded Iraq; the other editorial should state why the United States should not have invaded Iraq.
Some points you may wish to consider:
• What was the stated purpose of the invasion?
• Why did the United States initiate a preemptive war?
• Has the United States engaged in preemptive wars in the past?
• Were there alternatives to invasion?
• Was it reasonable to assume that the U.S. military could defeat the Iraqi military?
• What strategy did the United States have for rebuilding the Iraqi government and economy after the fall of Saddam Hussein?
• What was the American public asked to do to support the war effort?
• What was the human cost of the war on Iraq and on the United States?
• What was the economic impact of the war on Iraq and on the United States?
• How did the invasion affect relations between the United States and its traditional allies?
• How did the invasion affect relations between the United States and other nations of the Middle East?