Our story begins with a look back at the strained relationship between the United States and Iraq.The US supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), but tensions rose after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. The US led a coalition that drove Iraq out in the Gulf War (1991). Following the war, the US imposed economic sanctions on Iraq and conducted inspections for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).The Rationale for War1.US Justification for InvasionClaimed possession of WMDs by Iraq (later disproven)Removal of Saddam Hussein's authoritarian regime - seen as a threat to regional stability and a supporter of terrorismSpread of democracy in the Middle EastThe US government, led by President George W. Bush, presented several justifications for invading Iraq in 2003. The primary reason was the belief that Iraq possessed WMDs and could potentially share them with terrorist organizations. This claim, however, turned out to be false. Additionally, the US aimed to remove Saddam Hussein's regime, which was accused of human rights abuses and seen as a destabilizing force in the region. Finally, the Bush administration hoped to spread democracy in the Middle East by toppling a dictatorship.2. Shock and AweThe Invasion and its AftermathSwift military victory for the US-led coalitionSaddam Hussein's regime toppledInitial occupation by US forces.The US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, codenamed Operation Iraqi Freedom” was swift military success.The Iraqi military was quickly defeated, and Saddam Hussein's government collapsed.The US took control of the country and established an occupation force. However the initial euphoria of victory was soon replaced by a more complex reality