Iraq War 20 Years Later: Reflections on the Past and Present

 

As the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War approaches, people around the world are taking stock of the conflict’s impact on the region and its lasting effects.

While some argue that it is too soon to view the war as a historical event, others contend that it is time to reflect on what happened and learn from the mistakes that were made.

The impact of the Iraq War is still being felt in Iraq today, with nearly 1.2 million Iraqis still internally displaced due to the conflict.

To better understand the experiences of Iraqis during the war, Sana Murrani, an Iraqi researcher and associate professor in Spatial Practice and Architecture at the University of Plymouth, UK, created Ruptured Domesticity, a digital archive that collects memories of Iraqis who lived through the war.

The archive, along with a forthcoming book and exhibition at the London School of Economics Middle East Centre, focuses on the stories and memories of 15 Iraqis from different parts of the country.

Many of them are still living in Iraq and have vivid memories of the war and its aftermath.

Through the archive, Murrani aims to understand how Iraqis created places of refuge amid the uncertainty and chaos of war.

She believes that documenting these experiences is crucial to understanding the lasting impact of the war on the people of Iraq.

Iraq War: An Era of Fear and Terror

The Iraq War was a defining moment in the early 21st century, a time of great fear and terror following the 9/11 attacks in the US.

The decision to go to war was driven by politics and ideologies that were used to explain why the war fell apart and what went wrong afterwards.

According to Mark Damazer, a reporter and producer on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in 2001, the pace of events leading up to the war was a factor in the mistakes that were made.

Damazer explains that there was so much focus on day-to-day decisions and procedural concerns that not enough thought was put into plausible post-war scenarios.

The war itself was relatively short, taking just weeks for the US and its allies to depose Saddam Hussein.

However, the aftermath of the war was far more complicated. The lack of preparation for what would come after the war led to chaos and violence in Iraq that continues to this day.

Iraq War: Views From Iraqis

The Iraq War had a profound impact on the people of Iraq, many of whom are still struggling with the aftermath of the conflict.

While some are happy that Saddam Hussein is gone, very few are happy with what came afterwards.

Iraqis who spoke with Murrani for the Ruptured Domesticity project emphasized the importance of documenting what happened to them during the war.

Many of them lost their homes, possessions, and loved ones, and they feel that their experiences have been forgotten or ignored.

One of the most powerful voices in the project belongs to Zeinab, who wanted to highlight “what was lost and what was gained.”

She shared a section of her father’s library and wrote about the images she took of the National Iraqi Museum.

“My father’s uncle donated his coin collection to the museum years ago. I spent most of my time as a child in the museum, and in 2003 when it was looted, I cried so much because that was the heartbreak and loss of innocence for me.

But this photograph is my return to my second home after 15 years, it’s different, but it’s still there. A process of re-claiming,” she wrote for the archive.

Iraq War: Lessons Learned

As the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War approaches, it is important to reflect on the lessons learned from the conflict.

One of the most important lessons that can be drawn from the war is the importance of planning for the aftermath of military intervention.

The lack of preparation for what would come after the war in Iraq led to chaos and violence in the country that continues to this day.

It is clear that more thought should have been given to post-war scenarios, including how to rebuild the country and establish a stable government.

Another lesson learned from the Iraq War is the importance of accurate intelligence. The decision to go to war was driven by claims about the existence of weapons of mass destruction, but the intelligence turned out to be wrong.

This led to questions about whether people were deliberately misled or if there was something else going on.

Reflecting on the Iraq War 20 years later also highlights the impact of the conflict on the people of Iraq. Many Iraqis are still dealing with the aftermath of the war, including displacement and trauma.

The Ruptured Domesticity project by Sana Murrani is an important reminder of the need to document the experiences of those affected by war, especially when they are often forgotten or ignored.

The Iraq War also had profound historical consequences for the UK and the US. The war damaged the reputation of both countries and changed their relationships with the world.

It also led to an unwillingness to intervene in future crises, including those in Syria and Libya.

As the world looks back on the Iraq War 20 years later, it is important to remember the lessons learned from the conflict.

Planning for the aftermath of military intervention, accurate intelligence, and documenting the experiences of those affected by war are all crucial to avoiding the mistakes that were made in the past.