Occupation After the 9/11 attacks in New York, the so-called ‘war on terror’ sweep around the world, most obviously in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. It soon became clear that Iraq would be the next target. Throughout 2002, the US government made it clear that removing Saddam Hussein from power was a major goal, accusing the Iraqi regime of continuing the production and use of weapons of mass destruction, and of having links with terrorist organizations, particularly al-Qaeda. The invasion of Iraq was launched on March 19, 2003 by American forces with British support. The war was fought fitfully over a three-week period. Large scale operations ended when the US army entered Baghdad in force on 9 April 2003.

Looting With the large scale military operations, the central authority in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq collapsed and this led to outbreaks of looting and property destruction on a huge scale. Nearly every ministerial building was systemically stripped of its contents, and fires were ignited in the buildings. Hotels, palaces, villas of the elite, embassies, hospitals, barracks, water works were all targeted and mostly looted, vandalized and burnt down. While all these were taking place, Baghdad’s police force, normally 40,000 men strong, had disappeared and there were no firefighters to dampen the flames. The invading soldiers and officers did not do anything because of lack of orders to intervene and stop looting.

Sectarianism The Oxford English Dictionary defines “sectarianism” as adherence or excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially a religious one. Political sectarianism thus refers to a system of governance that favors and facilitates the empowerment of parties with platforms defined on the basis of sectarian identity. Sectarianism in Iraq was not simply a result of the occupation. Saddam Hussein had already played on sectarian differences, using divide-and-rule tactics. For instance, while in power he had deliberately established a sectarian hierarchy within government ranks, largely empowering Sunni Arabs over Shias.

Sectarianism after the Occupation Coalition Provisional Authority, set up in March 2003 with the order of President Bush and charged with temporary powers of government in Iraq, executed official orders that deepened sectarian politics in Iraq. “de-Baathification” and Sunni resentment In July 2003, the CPA ordered the establishment of a non-sovereign Iraqi Governing Council as the principal body of the Iraqi interim administration. The 25 members of the council who would run the ministries were selected on the basis of a sectarian criteria, and set-quotas that predetermined a Shia majority. In December 2005, national elections were held. Most political parties campaigned on the basis of ethno-sectarian appeals, and the election results demonstrated that Iraqis had voted overwhelmingly along the communal lines.

The New Prime Minister

Civil War Al Qaeda Iraq and the Mahdi Army led by Sadr Between 2006 and 2008, there was a bloody civil war in the country fuelled by sectarianism One of the turning points that paved the way for the civil war was an explosion inside the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, demolishing the golden dome of this sacred Shia shrine, in late February 2006. In retaliation, the newly empowered Shia dominated police forces and Shia militias launched a series of attacks citywide that targeted Sunni militia fighters and civilians. Throughout the 2006 and 2007, militias on both sides used brutal practices (intimidation, kidnapping, murders, suicide bombings and other forms of violence) to seize territory and displace opposing groups. By 2007, an estimated 5.25 million out of Baghdad’s total population of 7 million reportedly lived in areas dominated by a single sect.

Pre-2006 Baghdad

After the Civil War

Insurgency and Violence by the Occupiers Some of the worst destruction and atrocities have taken place in and around the city of Fallujah. First in April 2004 and then in November 2004, American forces, supported by hundreds of Iraqi troops, engaged in massive assaults on Fallujah on the grounds that between 1000 and 6000 insurgents were hiding in the city. According to Iraq Body Count, in the first assault, 800 people lost their lives and 572 of them were civilians. In the first nine days of the November assault, at least 800 civilians were killed by the American and Iraqi soldiers. In addition, about 200,000 Iraqis fled the city just before the assaults.

Dealing With Violence Surge: An increase in the number of the US troops. A change in the military strategy. The US troops becoming more visible and more active. Awakening: Agreement between the former Sunni insurgents and the US officials. Establishment of «Sons of Iraq». Former insurgents providing intelligence to the US troops Constructing a series of concrete walls around some Sunni and Shia neighborhoods.