Lessons and Legacies of Iraq 20 Years On

Description:

The International Leadership Center and International Security Studies — both part of the Jackson School of Global Affairs — will co-host the all-day symposium, “Lessons and Legacies of Iraq 20 Years On.” On March 20, 2003, a U.S. led coalition launched a shock and awe bombing campaign of Iraq before invading the country as part of President George W. Bush’s Global War on Terror. The United States couched its rationale on false claims that Iraq was stockpiling Weapons of Mass Destruction and Saddam Hussein was supporting al-Qaeda. The invasion overthrew the Ba’athist regime in a matter of weeks and Hussein was captured in December. Far from a swift victory, the conflict continued as coalition forces fought a growing insurgency and the new Iraqi government struggled to gain legitimacy. U.S. troops were officially withdrawn in 2014, but sectarian violence persists to this day. In addition to reflecting on the historical significance of the invasion, surge, and withdrawal, this symposium examines the implications of these events on current political, military, and policymaking conversations. Much like Vietnam, the ghosts of 2003 can be found stalking the halls of the Pentagon, wandering VA hospitals, as talking heads on cable news, and in refugee camps across the Middle East. Largely regarded a failure, one is left to ask what, if anything, did the U.S. learn from the Iraq War? And perhaps more importantly, how are these lessons being applied in 2023?

Open to the Yale community. For more information on speakers and panels, go to the registration page.