The Legacy of the Iraq War: Voices from the Frontlines and the Cost of Deception

The Iraq War, which began in 2003 with the invasion led by the United States and its coalition partners, has left deep scars on both Iraq and the soldiers who fought there. A decade after the conflict, the consequences of the war continue to reverberate, affecting not only the region but also the global geopolitical landscape. The justification for the war—saddled with lies about weapons of mass destruction—has led to widespread suffering, leaving Iraq fragmented and destabilized. But what about the human cost? What impact did the war have on the soldiers who fought it, both American and Iraqi?

A War Based on Deceit

The Iraq War began under the premise of eliminating Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair made the case for military intervention, citing the threat posed by Iraq’s purported stockpiles of WMDs. Yet, years after the invasion, no such weapons were found. This deception was a blow to the credibility of the U.S. government, and its consequences are still being felt today.

For the soldiers who served on the ground, the experience was harrowing. Many Iraqi citizens recall the brutal bombardment, airstrikes, and the devastation that befell their country in the early days of the invasion. One Iraqi describes the scene in Baghdad in March 2003, when airstrikes were rampant and the streets were deserted. "There was no place to get food or bread. All of the restaurants and shops were closed. It was terrifying, and we had to live with it,” he recalled.

The Impact on Soldiers

American soldiers, many of whom were not privy to the full scope of the political motives behind the invasion, were thrust into a complex and dangerous environment. As one former U.S. medic remembers, “I saw human beings, not just enemies. One of the hardest patients I worked on was a man who was someone’s grandfather, someone’s father. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The horror of war wasn’t just about combat—it's also about the emotional toll. Soldiers were tasked with the moral burden of killing in a conflict that was increasingly viewed as unjustified. One soldier who served as a sniper in Iraq shares a chilling account of a killing. "I shot him eight more times to stop him from moving," he says, his voice tinged with regret. "I've never felt satisfaction after killing someone again."

The psychological toll on the soldiers cannot be underestimated. As another soldier put it, the initial feeling of being a hero soon turned to confusion and guilt. "I thought I was fighting for a good cause, but the reality of the situation showed otherwise."

The Deception That Led to War

The false justification for the war became more apparent as the invasion progressed. The idea of bringing "democracy" to Iraq, while noble in theory, was complicated by the realities on the ground. Iraqi civilians, many of whom initially welcomed the end of Saddam Hussein’s regime, soon found themselves under the weight of occupation and violence. "We were told that we needed to bring democracy, but what we got was chaos," an Iraqi citizen recalls. The invasion not only destabilized Iraq but also sparked sectarian violence that continues to this day.

Despite the initial promises of liberation, Iraqis quickly realized that the U.S. invasion had its own hidden agenda. The war, while initially framed as a righteous cause, became a long and costly occupation. As one former U.S. Army soldier explains, “The war turned into a longer occupation after the dissolution of Iraq's government. We weren’t seen as liberators, but as occupiers.”

The Lasting Legacy: The Struggle for Accountability

The long-term effects of the Iraq War are still felt today, with many Iraqis and soldiers alike questioning the validity of the invasion and its aftermath. The U.S. government, which justified the war on the grounds of WMDs, has faced little accountability for its actions. Iraqi civilians continue to deal with the fallout of a shattered country—fragile governments, armed groups, and a fractured society.

For American soldiers, the question remains: how do they reconcile the horrors of war with the realization that they were sent to fight for reasons based on false pretenses? The emotional scars run deep. For many, the conflict continues to shape their lives long after they leave the battlefield.

A War That Never Ended

The Iraq War didn’t officially end with George W. Bush’s declaration of victory in 2003. Instead, it evolved into a protracted occupation, destabilizing the entire region. The dissolution of Iraq's government after Saddam Hussein's fall left a vacuum that extremist groups, including ISIS, exploited to their advantage. Iraq remains embroiled in sectarian conflicts, with groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda seeking to destabilize the country further.

The war also had a broader impact on international relations. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 created a moral double standard in global politics, where the U.S. and its allies justified their actions in Iraq while condemning similar actions by other nations, like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As British MP Andrew Murray points out, “There's a moral double standard when dealing with the situation in Ukraine and the situation in Iraq.”

The Global Repercussions

The Iraq War was not just a tragedy for Iraq but also a turning point in international relations. The war’s aftermath has contributed to a growing sense of global polarization, particularly between the West and the Global South. Countries like China and India, which represent the majority of the world’s population, were hesitant to align with the West’s moral stance on Iraq. This divide has persisted, influencing global politics to this day.

Moving Forward: A Lesson for the Future

The Iraq War stands as a cautionary tale—one of deception, moral ambiguity, and the long-lasting impact of military intervention. For those who lived through the war, whether as soldiers or civilians, the scars remain. The lessons from Iraq must not be forgotten, for they shape the way we view conflicts today. The impact of the Iraq War is still being felt, not just in the Middle East but across the world.

As we look toward the future, we must ask ourselves: what have we learned from Iraq, and how can we prevent such mistakes from repeating? The human cost of the Iraq War is immeasurable, and it serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of war based on false pretenses and moral double standards. Let us never forget the price of these mistakes, and work to ensure that future generations do not have to pay the same price.