I don’t remember being moved by the overthrow of a brutal regime and the hanging of a tyrannical president who resorted to torture and murder.
On the other hand, I have a sad memory of the reasons for the start of the war in 2003, just as I will not forget the failure of this application of the concept of preventive war.
Fight terrorism and build democracy
Still shaken by the attacks of September 11, 2001, it was a determined George W. Bush who led his country into a so-called preventive war.
Iraq was then identified as a threat because of its suspected terrorist ties, and Saddam Hussein was deemed too unpredictable. In addition, several members of the government were convinced that the Iraqi President had weapons of mass destruction.
Among the hawks in this file were heavyweights: CIA Director George Tenet, Vice President Dick Cheney, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. To this list must be added numerous polls that indicated support for military intervention among the American people. This table from the Pew Research Center reminds us of that.
While President Bush was identifying his “axis of evil,” it was Colin Powell who was sent to the slaughterhouse to present the UN with the many dangers in Iraq. This portrayal of the famous general not only contributed to his later resignation, but put a damper on his presidential ambitions.
Photo archive, AFP
Colin Powell in 2003
We now know that this war was a failure, both in the fight against terrorism and in establishing democracy. Moreover, this second goal was only added when people began to doubt the real threat that Iraq posed to the security of the United States.
Again, the Pew Research Center points out that public opinion has evolved since 2002-2003. Whether interviewing civilians or veterans, a high proportion of respondents believe this war was not worth the effort.
A disturbing record
To this day, pundits still debate the sincerity of the Bush administration. Did the poor quality of information from our agencies deceive us, or did we have other plans from the start?
That George W. Bush and his advisors may have had other justifications does little to change a reality we grappled with in 2023: we fueled the crisis of confidence in the political class.
Bush Jr. is not alone in bearing the burden of this crisis of confidence, but he has contributed to the hostility of many voters who have now turned to less conventional candidates.
This crisis of confidence can also be felt internationally. American opponents not only raise the Iraqi case to repel the United States, but allies sometimes question the sincerity of this giant’s intentions with feet of clay.
