Death and suffering in Iraq a painful legacy of 9/11 attacks

The Nugget

The war in Iraq, initiated under the pretext of combating terrorism post-9/11, resulted in immense suffering and a legacy of violence, with Iraqis now contending with a shattered infrastructure, rampant corruption, and lingering trauma.

Make it stick

🎯 The U.S. invasion of Iraq ranks among the costliest decisions in modern history affecting millions of lives.
🔄 Instead of democracy, Iraq descended into sectarian violence, insurgency, and the rise of extremist groups like ISIS.
🏚️ The failure to rebuild destroyed institutions after Saddam's removal left Iraqis without basic services, creating a "lost opportunity" for improvement.
👩‍👧 For many families, the personal toll was devastating; for instance, Itimad Hassoun lost 3 children in a bombing that many family members in Iraq still can’t forgive.

The U.S. invasion began on March 20, 2003, justified by claims of weapons of mass destruction and ties to Al-Qaida, both of which were later debunked.
The invasion aimed to dismantle Saddam Hussein's dictatorship but instead led to political chaos and societal fragmentation.

Loss of Life: Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians died, alongside 4,487 U.S. soldiers by the end of combat operations in 2011.
Humanitarian Crisis: Years of conflict resulted in a shattered economy and a healthcare system in tatters, compounded by rampant corruption.

Bitter Regret: Many Iraqis initially welcomed the invasion, hoping for better governance, but were met with destruction and inadequate support.
Lasting Trauma: The societal advances experienced after Saddam's fall were overshadowed by violent insurgencies and the rise of groups like Al-Qaida and ISIS.

Unintended Outcomes: The disbandment of the Iraqi army post-invasion opened the door to militias and extremists that destabilized the country.
Call for Change: Iraqi citizens, including families like that of Itimad Hassoun, express anger towards the U.S. for the chaos left behind, demanding accountability and a genuine plan for rebuilding.

“At first, I was happy with the U.S. invasion... But then what happened was that the country’s institutions were destroyed and never rebuilt again.”
“A dictatorship was removed for a supposed democracy, and we found ourselves with a civil war, al-Qaeda and ISIS.”
“There’s nothing that makes me happy. I have a pain that cannot be removed and an injury that cannot be healed.”
“This corrupt network is capable of killing Iraqis to survive, the same way Saddam killed Iraqis to stay in power.”
“America needs to fix things... It cannot do to us what it did to Afghanistan.”

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.