American Capitalism and Empire in Iraq - Research Proposal Example

Running Head: American Capitalism and Empire in Iraq, 2003 to 2008 American Capitalism and Empire in Iraq, 2003 to 2008 of Institution] Research Essay Proposal American Capitalism and Empire in Iraq, 2003 to 2008 The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 because it was considered as a threat to American interests. This research paper investigates the historical background of the decision to invade Iraq. The years 2003 till 2008 have been chosen because this time period has been dominated by the Iraq war. The American neoconservative administration started the beginning of a new form of imperialism and capitalism after 2003. It was considered to be the beginning of a new era of American unilateralism. It provides the various pretexts and reasons which were considered as justified by the Bush administration for the invasion. It provides an account of the plausible reasons which were more likely to be the real motives. Using historical analogies, the paper concludes, that the American military adventure in Iraq gave birth to a new form of imperialism and colonialism. Introduction President Bush announced the end of hostilities in Iraq on May 2003. This however became premature because of the fierce resistance which was witnessed in parts of Iraq. For years Iraq became the battleground between Islamic fundamentalists and the American armies. The United States of America has entered into a new era of colonialism and empire building with the occupation of Iraq. President Bush and his neoconservative administration proposed the use of military force to remove any state which challenged American domination and hegemony. Saddam Hussein was an old foe of the United States of America. The removal of the Iraqi regime was considered to bring many benefits for the new Pax Americana Empire. Background The 1991 Gulf War saw the ejection of Iraqi troops from Kuwait with sixty percent of its military and economic infrastructure ruined and devastated. The end of the Gulf War however retained Saddam Hussein in power with enough military firepower to crush Kurdish and Shiite opposition forces. A comprehensive policy of sanctions and no-fly zones was maintained to contain Iraq. UN inspectors were also sent to Iraq to dismantle the country’s extensive nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons program (Hemmer, 2007). By 1998, the United States pursued a policy of overthrowing the Baath Party regime. The Iraq Liberation Act was passed which provided the use of funds for Iraqi opposition groups. A major bombing campaign codenamed Operation Desert Fox was launched which was aimed at reducing the ability of Saddam to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. The election of President George W. Bush in 2000 would signal the beginning of the American willingness to invade Iraq and remove Saddam from power. By September 2002, a debate was being conducted inside the international community about the use of strategy to induce regime change in Iraq. The United States had insisted on using military force to invade Iraq while other nations had simply called for the use of sanctions and weapons inspectors to remove the Iraqi threat. The year 2003 would witness a massive preparation by the United States and it allies for the invasion of Iraq. The Bush administration made many causes to support the justification of the invasion. Reasons for invading Iraq The presence of weapons of mass destruction and ties with Al Qaeda were considered as the major reasons to invade Iraq. By March 2003, the US along with its allies decided to invade Iraq without the support of the United Nations (Judis, 2006). Numerous reasons were provided for the invasion of Iraq. The Bush administration defended the invasion of Iraq on the grounds that the Iraqi regime posed a significant security threat to the region because of its links with terrorist groups and weapons of mass destruction program. Other reasons were placed to bring democracy in Iraq and liberate the Iraqi people from a brutal dictatorship (Judis, 2006). Weapons of Mass Destruction and Military Threat The official reasons for the invasion of Iraq were the fact that Saddam Hussein’s regime had the capability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi regime had previously used chemical and biological weapons against Iranian troops and Kurdish citizens (Judis, 2006). During the 1980s, the country had an advanced program to manufacture and assemble chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Iraq also had a history of invading its neighbors, Iran and Kuwait. It had launched missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and Israel during the 1991 Gulf War. However this theory has been rejected because of the absence of weapons of mass destruction since the invasion. Further Iraq had already been weakened by the Gulf War and economic sanctions. The military was hampered by a shortage of new weapons, logistics, and funds. The Iraqi regime did not pose any threat to its neighbors after the Gulf War. Links with terrorist groups American intelligence agencies concluded that the possibility of Saddam Hussein allying with Al Qaeda were remote because of the ideological differences. They however stated that there were several meetings between Iraqi officials and Al Qaeda members. There were also concerns that the Iraqis would transfer their WMD stocks to Al Qaeda. The 2004 9/11 commission report however denied the presence of a strategic alliance between Iraq and Al Qaeda. Liberating Iraqi people Another reason which the Bush administration gave was to liberate the Iraqi people from a brutal and barbaric regime. The logic was that the United States could create a democracy in Iraq which would politically transform the neighboring countries. These efforts were also considered to be strange because most of the American allies in the region are ruled by dictatorships, military regimes, or kings. Egyptian, Saudi, and Syrian regimes have been equally brutal or barbaric towards their citizens. The political instability, suicide bombings, insurgency, and sectarian battles in Iraq frustrated efforts by the Americans to create a democracy in Iraq. Control of oil supplies Another possible theory as to why the United States invaded Iraq was to control the oil supplies of that nation. Iraq is considered to be one of the major oil producers in the region (Clark, 2005). The capture and seizure of a major oil producer would create a message for other countries like Russia and China that the United States had the capability to quickly gain control of a major oil producing region (Clark, 2005). Creation of Pax Americana The use of force against Iraq also demonstrated the creation of a formidable world order dominated by Pax Americana. Clearly this was the practical demonstration of the new world order which was theorized in the early 1990s after the collapse of the USSR. A unipolar world led by the United States would allow it to enjoy domination and power not held since the Roman Empire. This would have been a message to nations like Chine and Russia that challenging American hegemony would be counterproductive for their economies. The control over oil supplies would give the US leverage over hostile nations in the region like Syria and Iran. Kenneth Pollack stated that the invasion of Iraq would bring many benefits for the United States of America (Massing, 2007). American foreign policies after Iraq War The Iraq war was considered as the beginning of the American unilateralism in the world. The military might of America would be used to achieve the objectives and aims of the foreign policy. The fierce resistance encountered by American forces in Iraq came as a surprise for the neoconservative administration. It frustrated the attempts of the United States to create a permanent military base in Iraq. Even the goals of establishing a stable government were countered by the rise in terrorism and sectarian battles between Sunnis and Shiites. The United States has an estimated one hundred and fifty thousand troops in Iraq which have been battling an insurgency since 2003. The recent American surge and the turning over of Sunni tribes against the insurgency have been considered to be crucial in turning the tide (Yew, 2007). Kenneth Pollack stated that the American occupation could be sustained despite casualties (Massing, 2007). The number of fatalities of Iraqi civilians, soldiers, and policemen has dropped. The number of attacks on American troops has also been dropped. Another reason for the drop in attacks has been the decision of Moqtada Sadr, a firebrand Shiite cleric, to launch a unilateral ceasefire. Internationally, the United States of America has also pursued an aggressive policy after the Iraq war. It has increased the presence of military advisors in countries like Philippines, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen. It has been striking against terrorist bases in Pakistan’s North West Frontier province. There have been threats and intimidation of Syria and Iran who have been identified as culprits in aiding the insurgency (Hemmer, 2007). The United States also branded North Korea as part of an Axis of Evil. American capitalism after Iraq War The American occupation of Iraq has drastically changed its economic system. Saddam Hussein had presided over a socialist and centrally planned economic system. Iraq’s industrial and oil sector were controlled by the government while foreigners were prevented from purchasing Iraqi companies. The privatization of Iraq’s strategic assets began under the American administration. Foreign investment was welcomed as American, European, and other national companies entered Iraq to rebuild the devastated country. These companies welcomed the prospect of making profit inside Iraq. This allowed for the creation of unrestricted and unlimited foreign investment inside the country. Foreign investors virtually could purchase anything inside Iraq and were considered to be equal to local investors. They could also transfer their deposits and assets abroad. The aim of the Americans was to create an atmosphere where foreign companies would be able to dominate the Iraqi economy. A sharp reaction was witnessed inside and outside Iraq. The critics contended that only the Iraqi government, parliament, and people had the right to make laws which would govern their economy. One controversial aspect of the new economic laws was that foreign companies could not be prosecuted by Iraqi courts. Tax cuts and incentives were passed for the benefit of foreign organizations. Tariffs that had been imposed by the Saddam Hussein regime were removed which severely reduced the protection Iraqi companies had from foreign companies. The American administration has benefited from the privatization and domination of the Iraqi economy. New type of colonialism The United States had experience of being an old colonial power when it occupied Cuba and Philippines after the Spanish-American war. The invasion and occupation of Iraq led to the creation of a new type of colonialism (Drezner, 2007). This aggressive colonial adventure had precedents in the history of the Middle East. The Romans, Ottomans, and British had all colonized and conquered the Middle East. The Ottomans and British installed client regimes which were subservient to their interests. The British government seized control of Iraq after the defeat of Ottoman forces. A local insurgency was waged in 1920 which was crushed only after the British army suffered losses. The British tested several of the new weapons like airplanes and armored cars that had been used in World War I. The British imposed a Hashemite monarch on the Iraqi people by conducting a fraudulent referendum (Silverfarb, 1986). The state of Iraq was created by the merging of the former Ottoman provinces. The British occupation of Iraq coincided with the division of the former Ottoman provinces (Silverfarb, 1986). The modern Arab nations and state of Israel were created as a result of the change in the boundaries of the former Ottoman Empire. Similarly the United States also sought to expand and change the boundaries of the Middle East. Iraq was to be considered a new model of democracy which would serve Western interests. An Iraqi democracy with American bases would give the US the power to intimidate, threaten, and isolate Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The dependency of the US on Saudi Arabia would be reduced because of Iraq’s huge oil reserves. Syria would be sandwiched between Israel and an American backed Iraqi state. Iran would be squeezed and contained by a string of American bases in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Colonial empires in the nineteenth century grew because of the exploitation of economic resources. Britain and other European powers needed access to raw materials like rubber, cotton, spices, and foodstuffs from African and Asian states. The colonies were based on the provision of raw materials for the colonial power’s industrial and economic infrastructure. The colonial power also invested inside infrastructure which was vital for the transportation and shipment of these raw materials. The US occupation of Iraq can also be seen in the light of economic objectives. The acquisition of oil supplies and the creation of a huge market for American companies were some of the objectives of the new type of colonialism. Creation of fearsome ideologies The American invasion and occupation of Iraq generated an increased activity by Islamic fundamentalist groups. Iraq became the battleground for the war against the West. If American forces could be defeated in Iraq in a protracted and sustained guerilla war, they would retreat from Iraq. The Islamic fundamentalist groups considered this as the first step in the creation of a new order in the Middle East. The invasion of Iraq also sparked an influx of foreign fighters, an increase in terrorist plots, and establishment of terrorist networks in Iraq (Jenkins, 2006). This has been similar to the British occupation of the Middle East. The British colonialism sparked a resurgence of nationalist and communist ideologies. Soviet and Chinese communism were considered to be as models for the liberation of native people from the yoke of the imperialist powers. The rise of Arab nationalism in the Middle East was in response to the British colonialism. These powerful forces mesmerized millions of Arabs living under colonial rule. It inspired them to rise up and resist the colonial powers. The Iraqi invasion has also sparked fears that an American withdrawal could create the opportunity for regional powers like Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria to intervene and create their own client regimes (King, 2007). American military might The September 9/11 terrorist attacks shocked the United States because of the psychological, economic, and physical damage it caused. The huge fleet and arsenal of stealth bombers, aircraft carriers, nuclear warheads, submarines, tanks, artillery, and missiles had failed to protect the US from a group of terrorists armed with knives and box cutters. The Bush administration had to create a rapid and decisive response to these events. American military would be used to intimidate and overthrow any regime which challenged American hegemony (Drezner, 2007). Iraq was obviously an attractive target after Afghanistan because of its strategic location, oil reserves, fertile valleys, educated workforce, and abundant water resources (Drezner, 2007). Conclusion Iraq had remained in a state of weakness because of crippling economic sanctions and imposition of no fly zones by Allied powers after the termination of the 1991 Gulf War. The advent of the Bush administration and the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US signaled the beginning of a new form of American capitalism and empire. Iraq was considered a threat because of its weapons of mass destruction, links with terrorist groups, and history of attacking its neighbors. The Bush administration placed many reasons for the invasion of Iraq. However as the WMD and links with terrorists pretexts were discredited, there were new justifications like the liberation of Iraqi people and the creation of a democratic state in Iraq. The more likely reasons for the invasion and occupation of Iraq were the control of vital oil supplies in this state. Iraq if converted into the Western camp could provide an ideal base for the United States to intimidate and control Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. The US would also reduce its dependency on Saudi Arabia for oil. Iran and Syria could be threatened if they failed to modify their behavior. The American capitalism and empire in Iraq was followed by a series of aggressive steps throughout the world. The US increased its military bases and advisors to countries which were battling Islamic insurgencies. It also began to threaten North Korea and Iran with force if they failed to stop their WMD and terrorist links. Economic policies of Iraq were changed to transform the country from a socialist and centrally planned state into a free market system. All these policies have led to the creation of a new form of aggressive imperialism and colonialism in the world. Annotated Bibliography Jenkins, Brian Michael (2006). Unconquerable Nation: Knowing Our Enemy, Strengthening Ourselves. New York: The Rand Corporation This book provides an overview of the enemy forces which the United States faces. It also portrays the dynamics of the Islamic fundamentalist phenomenon which has been united since the invasion of Iraq. Using material from Chapter 5, this essay uses facts from the book about how the Iraqi invasion strengthened fearsome ideologies like Islamic fundamentalism. This is similar to how British colonialism led to the creation of radical ideologies like communism and Arab nationalism. One of the primary reasons for invading Iraq was to destroy suspected Al Qaeda terrorist camps and infrastructure inside the country. There were no links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda but the Iraq war became a magnet for potential extremists and fundamentalists who wanted to wage a holy war against the United States and West. Al Qaeda had significantly increased its fighters, training camps, safe houses, and weapons caches by infiltrating inside Iraq. Judis, John B. (2006). Folly of Empire: What George W. Bush Could Learn from Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Oxford University Press, Incorporated This book assesses the foreign policies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. It provides key lessons for the Bush administration. The essay uses material from Chapter 9 in which the various reasons for the invasion of Iraq were mentioned. The chapter also provides material which concludes that the occupation and invasion of Iraq had comparisons with the American indirect control of the Caribbean in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The United States intervened and meddled in the affairs of the small Caribbean states by installing client regimes. A form of indirect control was maintained where the client regimes pursued policies which were friendly to American business. This has similarities with the Iraq occupation where the US has been passing laws that are favorable for its business community. In some Caribbean states, resistance to American occupation would occasionally break as witnessed in Iraq. The Caribbean states would also see an intense hatred and resentment towards the United States for its imperial policies. Clark, William R (2005). Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar. New Society Publishers, Limited. This book argues that the occupation of Iraq was the first in a series of colonial projects to change the boundaries of the Middle East. Securing oil supplies has been a concern for American policy makers since the 1970s. When OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the Western countries in 1973 because of their support for Israel, this sparked a crisis in the West. American foreign policy has been focused on ensuring that the rich but fragile and fragmented Gulf States are provided protection and stability. This has included the use of American military bases and assistance to prop up these regimes. The US has also created a network of command and control centers, naval bases, airbases, and military barracks inside the Gulf to deter potential aggressors like Iran. The essay uses material from this book in which the economic motives of the Iraq war are analyzed. Silverfarb, Daniel (1986). Britains Informal Empire in the Middle East: A Case Study of Iraq 1929-1941. Oxford University Press, Incorporated This book details the history of the British rule in Iraq. The British occupation of Iraq has many similarities to the current American occupation. The British installed a client regime while controlling the oil supplies. It also had to face a backlash from local nationalist and religious forces. The Iraqis revolted against the British occupation in 1920 which was crushed only after the use of overwhelming military force. Another conflict came in the 1940s when a nationalist Iraqi regime attempted to form alliances with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The British would intervene to protect their interests and defeat the nationalist government. The rise of Saddam Hussein was a chain of events in which pro Western and pro British regimes were overthrown by Arab nationalist forces during the 1960s and 1970s. The research paper uses material from the book to compare the British colonialism of Iraq with the current American colonialism. Michael Massing (2007). The War Expert. Columbia Journalism Review, 46(4), 18-20 In this article, the author highlights how Kenneth Pollack considered the invasion of Iraq to be beneficial for the America. The essay uses information from this article about the objectives, motives, and reasons of the American invasion of Iraq. It studies how unrealistic explanations were given to justify the invasion of Iraq which was weakened by years of economic sanctions and military strikes after the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Pollack initially suggested that Saddam Hussein had the capability to acquire nuclear weapons which would be a threat to American interests. A belligerent Saddam Hussein could have given these nuclear weapons to terrorist cells which could have attacked the United States with such weapons. However these threats were found to be exaggerated and used to justify the invasion of Iraq. Saddam did have ambitions of acquiring weapons of mass destruction but the military strikes and economic embargo effectively prevented him from gaining such weapons. Christopher Hemmer (2007). The Lessons of September 11, Iraq, and the American Pendulum. Political Science Quarterly, 122(2), 207-238 In this article, the author provides the analysis of how 9/11 and the Iraq war changed the American administration. American intervention in the 1980s was limited and had few casualties. The US intervention in Lebanon, Grenada, Libya, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, etc was all limited military actions. The US did not occupy or enforce its policies on these countries. In some countries like Lebanon, the US had to beat a hasty retreat because of terrorist attacks. However the invasion of Iraq signaled the beginning of a new form of imperialism and colonialism in which American military power would be used to vanquish and annihilate any threat. This essay uses material from this paper to provide a background of the Iraq war. It also states the view that Iraq was a convenient target for the neoconservative administration because of its hostility towards the United States of America during the 1990s. Daniel W. Drezner (2007). The New New World Order. Foreign Affairs, 86(2), 34-46. Drezner argues that the September 11 attacks and Iraq war have led to the implementation of the New World Order which was first formulated after the 1991 Gulf War. This essay uses material from this essay to examine the American colonial policies which have been launched after the invasion. It provides an account of how the American empire has been systematically been pursuing a policy of conquering the Middle East either directly or indirectly. The New World Order has been considered to be the overwhelming military, diplomatic, political, economic, and technological reach of the United States of America. No nation since the Roman Empire has enjoyed such an unprecedented supremacy in the globe. Other potential rivals like Russia and China are still decades behind despite their significant strides in economics and technology. The 2003 Iraq war was also a message for any hostile state that resistance to the United States was futile. Lee Kuan Yew (2007, February). Bushs Final Strategy for Iraq. Forbes, 179(4), 31 The former Singapore premier, Lee Kuan Yew writes about the Iraq surge which has been the Bush strategy to fight the insurgents. While the surge has been successful, numerous problems continue to exist. The threat of fundamentalist groups has not diminished. While overall fatalities have dropped, there are fears that an American withdrawal might ignite a civil war with regional states intervening. Politically the surge has not accomplished its objectives. Yew also believes that the reason for the decrease in civilian casualties has been because most of the neighborhoods in Baghdad and other cities have been cleansed of the minority sect. Shiite neighborhoods only have Shiite populations while Sunnis form the overwhelming majority inside their own areas. The surge was based on the idea that US forces would move from their secure bases into the streets and alleys where they would establish checkpoints and gain the trust of the local Iraqi people. Neil King (2007, January 9). Widening War? If Iraq Worsens, Allies See Nightmare Case. Wall Street Journal  (Eastern Edition),  p. A.1 This article examines the details of a regional conflict if the conditions in Iraq get worse. The fears are expressed that the Saudis would intervene to support the Sunnis while Iran would begin to support the Shiites. Turkey would never tolerate an independent Kurdish state and could launch an invasion of the Northern Iraqi territories. These were the same reasons why President Bush senior did not invade Iraq because of concerns that an American occupation force inside an Arab state would increase resentment and hostility towards the United States. The removal of Saddam Hussein created opportunities for foreign terrorists, separatists, and sectarian militias to gain control of their areas. Several areas of Iraq have become fiefdoms for these gangs and militias. Regional countries are also arming and financing their local proxies in Iraq because an American withdrawal would result in a bloodbath that could spill inside their own borders. Each regional power wishes to acquire influence and power over Iraq. Read More