The purpose of this research is to analyze and assess the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent insurgency that followed. The latter was a direct result of the Coalition’s inability to come to terms with the various complexities of the country. This paper will look into the Iraq war’s transformation from a conventional invasion, into an anti-occupation insurgency, as well as the Coalition’s progress with dealing with the insurgency from its outbreak in 2003 to the most recent developments in early 2008.
I had chosen this particular topic because being a Maltese-American, anything that either country does in its foreign policy is of direct interest to me – not only as a student of International Relations, but also as a citizen. The issue of Iraq has long been on the front pages of newspapers, and the top stories on the news on television.
No matter what medium of the media you access, news about the situation Iraq is everywhere. I do not believe that one should simply sit back and watch the issues unfold with just as a means to pass the time, or worse, criticize without an ample knowledge of the facts. Rather, we should analyze and interpret the events that have occurred in Iraq and try to remedy the situation by evaluating every possible option to achieve stability in the country.
The term ‘fighting the flea’ derives from a book written by Robert Taber, an investigative journalist, after witnessing first-hand Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries wage a successful insurgency against the Batista government in the mid-1950’s and effectively take over the country.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Chapter 2: Eye of the Storm
- Chapter 3: The Insurgency Erupts
- Chapter 4: A Fractured Society
- Chapter 5: New strategy, better results
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This dissertation aims to analyze the Iraqi insurgency following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It seeks to understand the factors contributing to the insurgency's emergence, evolution, and impact on both Iraq and the United States.
- The initial phases of the Iraq War and the occupation.
- The rise and development of the Iraqi insurgency.
- The societal and political consequences of the insurgency.
- The impact of different military strategies employed by coalition forces.
- The long-term effects of the conflict.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Operation Iraqi Freedom: This chapter provides an overview of the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom. It details the military strategy employed by coalition forces, the rapid overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, and the initial expectations for a swift and relatively easy transition to a stable, democratic Iraq. The chapter likely sets the stage for the subsequent analysis of the insurgency by establishing the context of the invasion and the immediate aftermath, highlighting the initial miscalculations and unforeseen challenges that contributed to the subsequent instability.
Chapter 2: Eye of the Storm: This chapter likely delves into the immediate aftermath of the invasion and the early stages of the insurgency. It probably examines the initial resistance to the coalition forces, analyzing the diverse groups involved in the insurgency, their motivations, and their strategies. The chapter may explore the initial responses of the coalition forces to the growing insurgency and the challenges they faced in establishing security and control in a chaotic and volatile environment. The narrative probably focuses on establishing the origins and early development of the insurgency, laying the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of its evolution.
Chapter 3: The Insurgency Erupts: This chapter focuses on the escalation of the insurgency and its transformation into a major conflict. It likely analyzes the factors that contributed to the insurgency's growth, such as the dismantling of the Iraqi army, the rise of sectarian violence, and the alienation of segments of the Iraqi population. The chapter likely explores the different tactics and strategies employed by the insurgents, including guerrilla warfare, suicide bombings, and the targeting of both coalition forces and Iraqi civilians. The analysis probably highlights the increasing complexity of the conflict and the challenges faced by both sides.
Chapter 4: A Fractured Society: This chapter likely explores the societal and political ramifications of the insurgency. It probably examines the effects of the conflict on Iraqi society, including the displacement of populations, the breakdown of social order, and the rise of sectarian tensions. The chapter might analyze the impact on the political process, including the challenges of establishing a stable government and the difficulties in achieving national reconciliation. The discussion likely emphasizes the multifaceted consequences of prolonged armed conflict, beyond just the military aspects.
Chapter 5: New strategy, better results: This chapter likely examines the evolution of military strategies employed by coalition forces in response to the insurgency. It probably analyzes the transition from a predominantly military approach to a more counter-insurgency focused strategy, incorporating elements such as increased troop deployment, improved intelligence gathering, and initiatives aimed at winning over the support of the local population. This chapter's analysis likely focuses on how different strategies affected the course of the conflict and their relative successes and failures. It possibly explores how the changing dynamics of the insurgency itself influenced the strategies employed by coalition forces.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Iraqi insurgency, Operation Iraqi Freedom, counterinsurgency, sectarian violence, political instability, military strategy, occupation, post-conflict reconstruction.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of the Iraqi Insurgency
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a dissertation analyzing the Iraqi insurgency following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It covers the invasion, the insurgency's rise and development, its societal and political consequences, the impact of different military strategies, and the conflict's long-term effects.
What are the key themes explored in the dissertation?
The key themes include the initial phases of the Iraq War and occupation; the rise and development of the Iraqi insurgency; the societal and political consequences of the insurgency; the impact of different military strategies employed by coalition forces; and the long-term effects of the conflict.
What chapters are included, and what do they cover?
The dissertation includes five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the initial invasion. Chapter 2 examines the immediate aftermath of the invasion and the early stages of the insurgency. Chapter 3 focuses on the escalation of the insurgency. Chapter 4 explores the societal and political ramifications of the insurgency. Chapter 5 analyzes the evolution of military strategies employed by coalition forces.
What is the objective of the dissertation?
The dissertation aims to analyze the Iraqi insurgency, understanding the factors contributing to its emergence, evolution, and impact on Iraq and the United States.
What are the key words associated with the dissertation?
Key words include Iraqi insurgency, Operation Iraqi Freedom, counterinsurgency, sectarian violence, political instability, military strategy, occupation, and post-conflict reconstruction.
What does Chapter 1 cover?
Chapter 1 provides an overview of Operation Iraqi Freedom, detailing the military strategy, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, and initial expectations for a swift transition to a stable Iraq. It sets the stage for analyzing the subsequent insurgency.
What does Chapter 2 cover?
Chapter 2 delves into the immediate aftermath of the invasion and the early stages of the insurgency, examining the initial resistance, the diverse groups involved, their motivations, and strategies. It focuses on establishing the origins and early development of the insurgency.
What does Chapter 3 cover?
Chapter 3 focuses on the escalation of the insurgency, analyzing factors contributing to its growth such as the dismantling of the Iraqi army and the rise of sectarian violence. It explores insurgent tactics and the increasing complexity of the conflict.
What does Chapter 4 cover?
Chapter 4 explores the societal and political ramifications of the insurgency, examining the effects on Iraqi society, including displacement, breakdown of social order, and the rise of sectarian tensions. It analyzes the impact on the political process and the challenges of establishing a stable government.
What does Chapter 5 cover?
Chapter 5 examines the evolution of military strategies employed by coalition forces in response to the insurgency. It analyzes the transition from a military approach to a counter-insurgency strategy and how different strategies affected the conflict's course.
- Quote paper
- Matthew Bugeja (Author), 2008, Fighting the Flea. The Iraqi Insurgency, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/274353