The Iraq War and the Deception of WMDs

The Iraq War and the Deception of WMDs

In American memory, US lives mattered, Iraqi deaths didn’t. That was by design — narrative control was a military goal.

Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News: Iraq

This examines misinformation used to justify the Iraq invasion and the media's role in supporting Bush's narrative. Unlike Trump, Bush received widespread media backing, with limited scrutiny of his choices and endorsement of false information that shaped public perception of Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

History

The US intervention in Iraq in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein's regime but sparked a long conflict. The 2003–2011 Iraq War included a fast-paced initial phase followed by a long occupation confronting insurgents. The roots of the war go back to Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Despite losing the Gulf War, Saddam's regime survived by crushing the uprisings. The allies created a “safe harbor”, imposed no-fly zones, and UN sanctions were aimed at Iraqi weapons programs. The audits revealed violations that resulted in the US. airstrikes in 1998. Economic sanctions eased and the US withdrew in 2011 after a decline in violence.

In 2002, President George W. Bush linked the Iraq War to post-9/11 security concerns, citing weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism. Despite UN Resolution 1441, controversy has arisen over Iraq's compliance with it. The roots of the conflict lie in historical tensions between Shiites and Sunnis, as well as the repressive rule of Saddam Hussein, which contributed to the military campaign launched on March 20, 2003. The war changed the face of the Middle East, benefited Iran and sparked a refugee crisis. Initially opposed to the war, the war's unpopularity in the US grew, prompting a strategic surge in 2007 aimed at stabilizing the country amid escalating sectarian conflicts. By the end of 2007, the violence had subsided, leading to graduation in the United States. troop reduction and complete withdrawal in December 2011.

U.S. President George W. Bush announcing the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in London on Dec. 14, 2003

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)

Initial justifications for the Iraq War included false claims about Iraq possessing chemical or biological weapons and alleged ties to Al-Qaeda. While there was truth to Iraq's past possession of such weapons, by 2003, they had been eliminated, verified by UN inspectors. The evidence, including claims about an active WMD program, proved unsubstantiated, relying on unreliable sources like Ahmed Chalabi. President Bush's push for war, citing WMDs, lacked concrete evidence and conflicted with UN inspection findings. Despite acknowledging flawed intelligence, no WMDs were found post-invasion, raising questions about misinformation surrounding the war. The 2011 U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, despite reduced violence and progress in democracy, had far-reaching consequences. It allowed the rise of the Islamic State.

Two decades post-war, Iraq, now a nascent democracy, faces challenges like threats to activists and journalists, pervasive corruption, economic turmoil, high unemployment, and inadequate public services. Despite stability in government-level interactions with the US, pro-Iranian militias strain diplomatic ties, leading to attacks and military interventions. The 2021 partial US withdrawal hasn't fully alleviated the threats from extremist groups, challenges in reconciling with Sunni communities, and the unresolved Kurdish question.

The Role of the Media

Throughout the entire 20th century, propaganda has been closely associated with war. However, the sophistication and forceful influence of US information operations have significantly evolved from the iconic Uncle Sam posters of World War I.

The media plays a crucial role in both the prevention and propagation of false information. The Bush administration found support from a unified media campaign. Irrespective of their political affiliations, most publications aided Bush in his pursuit of the Iraq invasion. Journalist Gary Kamya remarked, "The period between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq marks one of the most significant breakdowns in American media history."

In the Iraq War, widespread propaganda was fueled by media embedded in the conflict. Over 600 journalists provided updates, with orchestrated events like British tank displays aimed at influencing public opinion. The U.S. distributed leaflets attributing Iraqi suffering to Saddam, seeking to minimize casualties. However, conflicting messages and distrust made discerning the truth challenging for the Iraqi people. The media's influence, known as the "CNN effect," complicated the conflict, as it shaped public opinion and forced governments to address specific issues. Propaganda extended beyond external influences, as regimes, like Hitler's and Saddam's, use selective information to control narratives. During this time, the falsehoods propagated by the Bush administration largely evaded scrutiny and were occasionally actively promoted. Judith Miller, a correspondent for The New York Times, consistently provided a platform for the administration's misinformation without credible sourcing. In 2007, Miller and Michael R Gordon published a significant article alleging Iraq's intensified efforts in developing a successful nuclear program. However, neither reporter cited reliable sources, instead relying on information from an anonymous US official.

While the media claimed to offer an unbiased view of events, achieving complete neutrality was challenging due to inherent biases. These were some pitfalls in media reporting on violence, many observed in coverage of the Iraq War. "Manichaeism," portraying one side as good and demonizing the other as evil, was and is still notably prevalent in U.S. mass media.

• Decontextualizing Violence: Focusing on the irrational without examining the underlying reasons for unresolved conflicts.

• Dualism: Reducing the parties involved in a conflict to two, ignoring external forces such as foreign governments and transnational companies.

• Manichaeism: Portraying one side as good and demonizing the other as evil.

These media mistakes significantly impacted public opinion. Notably, the media's narrative shifted from a focus on the threat of biological weapons to an effort to free Iraq. Propaganda's influence was a powerful tool in shaping public perception, affecting the outcome of a war. Adolf Hitler's acknowledgment that "all that matters is propaganda" underscores its role in psychological warfare and emphasizes the need to use propaganda to promote peace and understanding rather than incite conflict.

Saddam Hussein and His Lies as well

Saddam Hussein's Iraq used deceptive tactics, such as staged funerals and false health claims, to mislead the media. The regime blamed U.S. sanctions for issues like child deaths, but the fault lies with the regime, which prioritized personal projects over the well-being of its people. Saddam's propaganda aimed to shift blame onto the United States. There is a report that also exposes Iraq's ruse of placing military equipment near civilian areas to discredit potential U.S. attacks. Despite varying success globally, these deceptions contribute to concealing weapons of mass destruction.

U.S.-Iraq War propaganda significantly shaped public opinion, portraying Saddam Hussein as "evil" and the U.S. as a liberator. The narrative evolved from WMD justifications to framing the war as a liberation effort. Media manipulation, including "Manichaeism," impacted global perceptions and diplomatic relations, highlighting the enduring influence of propaganda on historical perspectives and support for military actions. The Bush administration thought the United States would succeed in imposing a liberal democracy in Iraq and turn this country into a close ally of the USA and a model for the rest of the Middle East. Iraqi democracy is weak today, and the country has closer allies with Iran than the United States.