US Involvement in International Conflict

The Iraq War The US went to war in Iraq in 2003, without approval from the UN Security Council In this sense it has been regarded as an “illegal war” 9 votes from security council members would have been required for the war to be sanctioned by the UN…only four countries – the USA, UK, Spain and Bulgaria – indicated they would support intervention The French foreign minister stated that: “We think that military intervention would be the worst possible solution” Russia’s view: “Russia deems that there is no evidence that would justify a war in Iraq”

The Iraq War Analysis - The Iraq War is perhaps the best recent example which highlights the USA’s SUPERPOWER status. In spite of huge international opposition, the US invaded Iraq anyway and stayed there for over a decade, leading to hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. Although the reason President Bush gave for the conflict was the believed existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), others argue that the real reason was because of US oil interests in the region which would be crucial to the nation’s sustainability. The US also ignored the UN in relation to the invasion.

The Crimean Crisis The US has condemned the Russian involvement in the 2014 Crimean Crisis Crimea is an area of the Ukraine which broke away to join Russia following weeks of unrest and a heavily criticised referendum President Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry claimed that the referendum was illegal and the USA has refused to recognise Crimea as being part of Russia The UN has also condemned Russian involvement in the crisis The US and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia following the crisis Analysis – US imposed sanctions have hurt Russia financially which show the US’s influence. However, the US is reluctant to engage militarily in this region in case the situation escalates. This shows that US power is limited. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275

The Syrian Civil War Since 2011, the Middle Eastern nation of Syria has dogged by a bitter and violent civil war. The two main groups are those loyal to the Syrian President – President Assad – and rebels who wish to make Syria a democracy. US involvement in the Syrian conflict has changed overtime, as both American Presidents and issues of human rights abuses have come to light. Since 2014, parts of Syria have also been under the control of the terrorist organisation ISIS/ISIL, further complicating matters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoL0L_DbuQQ Syrian Civil War explained

The Syrian Civil War: Obama’s stance President Obama, like many world leaders, urged President Assad to step down and placed financial sanctions on Syria from 2011. Obama managed to gain Congressional approval to provide weaponry and support to Syrian rebels and also to conduct airstrikes against loyalist targets in September 2014 following the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people by President Assad. However, Obama resisted calls to send troops directly into Syria.

Analysis – the USA, under President Obama, refused full military involvement in Syria with critics suggesting he feared further international repercussions in the aftermath of the Iraqi and Libyan conflicts. However, the USA were still at the forefront of international involvement in the conflict, highlighting its great influence.

The Syrian Civil War: Trump’s stance Since January 2017: President Trump has taken a far more varied approach to US involvement in Syria. He initially signed a controversial executive order establishing an indefinite ban on accepting refugees from the country. The ban, which the Trump administration asserted was necessary for the nation’s security, was quickly halted by the courts after critics said it discriminated against Muslims. A second version of the travel ban, which is working its way through the courts, would not ban Syrian refugees indefinitely.

However, following further chemical weapons attacks against the Syrian people in April 2017, President Trump has ordered further airstrikes, and authorised the “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB) to be used in Syria. Trump has stated that he finds the Syrian conflict horrifying and that he opposes Assad’s continued use of force against his own people. Analysis – the continued involvement of the USA in this long running conflict highlights their commitment to international humanitarian efforts and democracy across the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CwTXWVulbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CwTXWVulbs

Overall… The USA – as the world’s only (democratic) superpower remains the world’s “policeman”. It continues to show its dominance and force on the international stage and other countries continue to look to the USA for help and support in times of need.