Problems with resorting order in Iraq

Problems with restoring order in Iraq

• Tensions between sunni, shia, and kurdish communities

• Government struggled with legitimacy, corruption, inefficiency, and internal division

• ISIS and offsets seizing control and carrying out attacks

• Iran, US, Turkey and other countries intervene politically often for different purposes, undermining Iraq’s sovereignty

• Decades of war devastated Iraq’s cities, utilities, and transport networks, slowing economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The right to go to war (Jus ad Bellum)

• Just Cause:
  You can only go to war for a morally right reason — typically, self-defense against aggression, protecting innocent life, or responding to serious injustices.
  (Examples of unjust causes: invading to grab land or resources.)

• Legitimate Authority:
  Only duly constituted and recognized leaders (like a government) can declare a war. Private individuals or groups can't legitimately start wars.

• Right Intention:
  The real aim of the war must be to achieve a just cause, not revenge, conquest, or personal gain.

• Probability of Success:
  You shouldn't start a war if it's hopeless and only causes pointless suffering. There must be a reasonable chance of achieving the just goals.

• Proportionality:
  The expected benefits of going to war must outweigh the expected harms. (Not just can we win, but is it worth the cost?)

• Last Resort:
  All peaceful options — negotiations, sanctions, diplomacy — must have been tried and failed before turning to war.

Jus in Bello (The Right Conduct Within War)

• Discrimination/Distinction:
  You must distinguish between combatants and non-combatants. You can only target enemy soldiers and military objectives — never deliberately attack civilians.

• Proportionality (again, but applied differently):
  The force used in each attack must be proportional to the military advantage gained. No excessive force. (e.g., Don't bomb an entire city to kill one enemy leader.)

• No Means Mala in Se ("evil in themselves"):
  Certain methods of warfare are always wrong, no matter the goal — for example, rape, genocide, torture, or using weapons like chemical or biological agents.

• Fair Treatment of Prisoners of War:
  Captured enemy soldiers must be treated humanely, not tortured or killed.

• No Reprisals Against Civilians:
  You can't attack civilians even in revenge if the enemy has done so.

Similarities between Iraq and Vietnam war

1. U.S. Intervention Based on Fear of Bigger Threats

• In Vietnam, it was the fear of communism spreading (the "Domino Theory").

• In Iraq, it was the fear of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and terrorism post-9/11.

• Guerrilla Warfare and Insurgencies

  • In Vietnam, the U.S. fought guerrilla fighters like the Viet Cong who used ambushes, booby traps, and hit-and-run tactics.

  • In Iraq, U.S. forces faced a violent insurgency with roadside bombs (IEDs), urban warfare, and decentralized enemy groups.

• Difficulty Identifying the Enemy

  • In Vietnam, civilians could easily blend in with the Viet Cong.

  • In Iraq, insurgents blended into local populations, making it hard to distinguish combatants from non-combatants.

• Nation-Building Challenges

  • In Vietnam, the U.S. tried to build a stable, democratic South Vietnamese government.

  • In Iraq, the U.S. tried to set up a democratic system after toppling Saddam Hussein.

• Public Opinion Turned Against the War

  • In Vietnam, as casualties rose and TV coverage showed the brutal reality, American public support collapsed.

  • In Iraq, especially after the WMDs were never found and the violence dragged on, public opinion turned sharply against the war.

  High Human and Financial Costs

  • Both wars resulted in heavy casualties (American, allied, and civilian) and massive financial expenditures.

  • Neither war achieved its original goals fully, leading to questions about whether it was all worth it.

• Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy

  • Vietnam led to the "Vietnam Syndrome" — extreme caution about military interventions afterward.

  • Iraq caused a similar hesitance, making leaders more wary about large-scale invasions and occupation strategies.

Constructional world order prevalent after ww2

• Rule of Law Internationally:
  Countries agreed that laws and agreements — not just power — should govern international relations. Treaties, conventions, and organizations gained huge importance.

• Creation of Global Institutions:
  Institutions like the United Nations (1945), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and later the World Trade Organization (WTO) were built to manage conflicts, promote development, and stabilize the global economy.

• Human Rights Emphasis:
  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) symbolized a global commitment to protect individual rights, no matter where someone lived. Preventing atrocities like those seen in WWII became a central moral mission.

• Sovereignty, but with Limits:
  States remained sovereign, but there was a growing belief that sovereignty wasn’t absolute — especially if a country committed crimes against humanity.

• Democracy and Liberalism:
  Particularly among Western countries, there was a strong push for democratic governance, free markets, and constitutional protections at the national level, influencing global norms.

• Containment and Cold War Tensions:
  Although the West and the Soviet Bloc had very different visions (liberal democracy vs. communism), both operated within a world increasingly tied together by treaties, pacts, and multilateral diplomacy.

arab spring

• Mass Protests: Large-scale demonstrations in city squares and streets.

• Use of Social Media: Platforms like Facebook and Twitter were used to organize protests and spread information quickly.

• Demand for Political Change: Protesters called for the removal of long-standing dictators, constitutional reforms, and fair elections.

• Government Crackdowns: Many regimes responded with violence, censorship, and arrests.

• Economic Grievances: High unemployment, poverty, and rising food prices fueled anger.

• Youth-Led Movements: Young people were often at the forefront of organizing and protesting.

• Tunisia:

  • Where it all began (December 2010) after a street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in protest against police harassment.

  • Result: President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country.

• Egypt:

  • Huge protests in Tahrir Square in early 2011.

  • Result: President Hosni Mubarak resigned after 30 years in power.

• Libya:

  • Uprising turned into a civil war.

  • Result: Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed.

• Syria:

  • Protests evolved into a brutal civil war that still impacts the region today.

• Yemen:

  • Widespread protests forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

• Bahrain:

  • Protests were largely suppressed with the help of Saudi-led forces.