The Iraq War: Causes and Ramifications

The modern histories of the United States and Iraq are closely intertwined. This 8-minute video explores the relationship between the two countries in the context of the Iraq Wars. In 1990, Iraq invaded its smaller neighbor, Kuwait. In response, a coalition of nations declared war on Iraq and restored Kuwait to independence. Economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council as punishment for Iraq’s annexation of Kuwait had major consequences on Iraqi society. About a decade later, believing that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), a United States-led coalition invaded Iraq in 2003 and overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein. The Iraq wars have had large impacts on Iraqis, Americans, and the greater Middle East region. Understanding the ramifications of the Iraq Wars on these groups provides insight into contemporary American policies in the Middle East and global international relations. Interested in teaching this history? Download the Teacher's Guide and Student Viewing Guide here: http://ncmideast.org/middle-east-explained/. The Middle East Explained series is a project of the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies (http://ncmideast.org).