The Actual Motives for the Iraq War

Essay by seanlvnCollege, UndergraduateA-, May 2007

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What were the real motivations for the Iraq War? This controversial question plagues America and is a topic of heated debate. Was this war motivated by noble causes, such as the spread of democracy, the stabilization of the Middle-Eastern region, the issue of national security, and the neutralization of weapons of mass destruction, or was it really about the unspoken quest for oil, to secure US business interests in the region, the vendetta between Saddam and the Bush family, or the attempt by the Bush Administration to capitalize on popularity brought about by fighting the War on Terrorism.

A popular belief strongly championed by President Bush and his administration, was that the motivation for the Iraq war was the spread of Democracy. Proponents of this belief would argue the following: Spreading democracy in Iraq was a real priority of the Bush Administration and one of the main motivations for the invasion.

It's the 21st century, the world is modernizing, and superpowers are helping developing countries develop. The UN, composed of members from most of the countries of the world, was founded to promote peace, security, and economic development throughout the world. As one of, if not the only, current superpower, the United States has an obligation to spread democracy throughout the world, mainly Iraq, as stabilizing the country would bring stability to the volatile Middle-East. The deposition of Saddam Hussein would clear the space for the Iraqi people to establish a truly democratic government and serve as a beacon and inspiration for the spread of democracy throughout the Islamic world.

Saddam Hussein massacred his people, the Kurds, and even his own family members, yet he was supposedly elected by 99% of the population. This is the result of a dictatorship government where the people have little to no say.