1. INTERVENTION IN IRAQ: A REALIST PERSPCTIVE By Andrea Valencia

2. Realist Theory  I : Realist theory “Even in traditions with authoritative defining texts, such as Marxism and Christianity, different emphases and antagonistic interpretations are common” (Donelly p. 6)

3. Realist Theory Cont’  1. A pessimistic view of human nature: Humans as evil, egoistic and self-centered. “in constituting and legislating for a commonwealth it must need to be taken for granted that all men are wicked and that they will always give vent to the malignity that is in their minds when opportunity offers” (Machiavelli, pg. 97).

4. Realist Theory Con’  2. The world is in anarchy and international conflicts are ultimately resolved by war. “individuals, international organizations, NGO’s…are either far less important or unimportant” (Jackson & Sorensen, 2010),

5. Realist Theory Con’  3. National security and the survival of the State are of the utmost importance “policy-makers can never be certain whether they are dealing with a revisionist or status quo state”

6. Realist Theory Con’  4. realists are skeptical in the use of morality in international politics. ‘ Realism maintains that universal moral principles cannot be applied to the actions of states…but they must be filtered through the concrete circumstances of time and place” (Morgenthau)

7. Definition  States as the main actors in international politics with each State trying to maximize their national interest in an anarchic system and where States men, like States, are rational actors that pursue the interest of the State in world politics (Jackson & Sorensen, 2010; Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2011; Söderblom, 2004).

8. Terrorism & 9/11

9.  Before 9/11 Terrorist attacks: bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993 Oklahoma City in 1995 U.S embassy’s in Kenya, Tanzania and Africa in 1998. (Pearl, 2003:3, Carafano, J., 2004: 2).

10. Terrorism & 9/11 Cont'  “terrorism was widely recognized by the IC and policymakers, virtually no initiatives were taken to address the deep-seated limitations in U.S. strategic intelligence that made it an inadequate instrument for meeting this threat” (Carafano, J., 2004: 2).

11. Terrorism & 9/11 Cont'  U.S definition of international terrorism as it focuses on terrorist groups and excludes the “individual (“lone wolf”) terrorist activity which has recently risen in frequency and visibility” (Perl, 2003: CRS-4).

12. Terrorism & 9/11 Cont' Soviet-sponsored terrorism presented a concern, as well as, preventing the spread communism. However, terrorism remained as “a secondary priority for U.S. intelligence until after the collapse of Communism in the early 1990’s” (Carafano, J., 2004: 2).

13. Terrorism & 9/11 Cont'  The attacks on 9/11 provided an eye opening for the U.S and its policy-makers: “Generally, U.S. anti- terrorism policy from the late 1970’s to the mid- 1990s focused on deterring and punishing state sponsors as opposed to terrorist groups themselves” (Perl, 2003: CRS-5).

14. Terrorism & 9/11 Cont'  9/11: Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania,  3,000 people who died  cost of the destruction of the World Trade Center at $83 billion dollars  inefficiency of the U.S intelligence system  and the national security threat that the al-Qaeda network presented to the U.S

15. III. Application of theory  Pessimistic view of human nature: G.W Bush speech A. Human beings as evil: ““Our enemies believed America was weak ad materialist, that we would splinter in fear and selfishness. They were as wrong as they are evil” B. Iraq terrorist breeding ground: “States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger

16. III. Application of theory  2. Saddam Hussein as Irrational: “Saddam must be toppled because he cannot be deterred from using weapons of mass destructions” (Mearsheimer & Walt)

17. III. Application of theory  3. National Interest:  WMD: NSC Threat  Strategic Place in the Middle-East: Protect our ally Israel and keep an eye on Iran http://wemeantwell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/iraqbases.jpg  Oil http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MTTIMIZ1&f= A

18.  Iraq Freedom (21 Days) “Success is the ultimate test of policy “ (Walts 1979: 117) Initial Goals: 1.Immediate goal of removing Saddam Hussein’s regime a 2.2. destroying its ability to use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorists. III. Application of theory

19. IV. Criticisms No WMD found Was Saddam irrational? “that the belief that Saddam’s past behavior cannot be contained rests on distorted history and faulty logic. In fact, the historical record shows that the United States can contain Iraq effectively- even if Saddam has nuclear weapons- just as it contained the Soviet Union during the Cold war” Al-Qaeda as a non-state actor Costly

20. The End