The rather unfortunate other side of the western guarrantee of self determination by self determined means, is we insure you have a choice, but you must “choose wisely”. If a people allows its government to commit such crimes against humanity, then the people are guilty of doing so, and obviously will pay the price for their poor judgement.
Iraq initiated the problem by Invading and destroying Kuwait. American mistake was in ‘not completeing the job’ at that time. Then Iraq harassed troops and challenging the no fly zone.
The majority of deaths were due to th esunni-shia conflict and the insurgency.
DEATHS
–“Deaths by cause in the iraq war:
Coalition military forces: According to official sources, a total of 4,431 coalition military personnel, including 4,488 US troops, were killed in the Iraq War.
Iraqi military forces: It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 Iraqi military personnel were killed in the conflict.
Iraqi civilians: The number of Iraqi civilian deaths is a subject of debate and varies widely depending on the source. Some estimates suggest that over 100,000 civilians were killed, while others put the figure much higher. The majority of civilian deaths were caused by insurgent attacks, sectarian violence, and military operations.
Insurgents: It is difficult to estimate the number of insurgents who were killed during the conflict. However, it is believed that many thousands were killed in US-led military operations, including air strikes and ground offensives.
Contractors and journalists: A significant number of contractors and journalists were also killed during the Iraq War. According to official figures, 318 contractors and 144 journalists were killed.’–
INSURGENTS
—“The insurgents included a variety of groups with different motivations and ideologies, including:
Ba’ath Party loyalists: Many former members of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party, which had ruled Iraq before the invasion, joined the insurgency. They were motivated by a desire to regain power and opposed the US-led occupation of the country.
Sunni Arab militias: Sunni Arabs, who made up the majority of the Ba’ath Party and had held significant political and economic power under Saddam Hussein, also joined the insurgency. They were concerned about the loss of their influence and power under the new Shia-dominated government.
Islamist militants: A number of Islamist groups, including Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), also joined the insurgency. These groups were motivated by a desire to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and to fight against what they saw as Western imperialism and influence in the Middle East.
Criminal groups: Some criminal organizations joined the insurgency to take advantage of the instability and to profit from illegal activities.”—
CAUSES
–“There are several reasons why so many people died in the Iraq War:
1. Military conflict: The Iraq War was a military conflict, and therefore, there were many casualties on both sides. The United States, which led the invasion, deployed a large number of troops, and faced significant resistance from Iraqi forces. The fighting was intense and led to many casualties on both sides.
2. Insurgency and terrorism: After the initial invasion, there was a prolonged insurgency in Iraq, which was marked by terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, and other forms of violence. These attacks targeted both military personnel and civilians, resulting in a high number of deaths.
3. Sectarian conflict: The Iraq War also exacerbated existing sectarian tensions in the country between the Shia and Sunni populations. This led to violent clashes, including attacks on civilians and mass killings.
4. Infrastructure damage: The war caused significant damage to the country’s infrastructure, including hospitals, water treatment plants, and electrical grids. This damage led to a deterioration in public health and safety, resulting in additional deaths.”—
Reply addressees: @MauriceeAubin