Fall of Baghdad and Occupation

1. Fall of Baghdad andOccupation

2. Fall of Baghdad April 9, 2003 fall of statue of Saddam in downtown Baghdad – most memorable image Marines largely welcomed, applauded upon arrival Premature victory in U.S. is celebrated…comparison to Israel Col. Jonny Brooks, “We can easily win the fight but lose the peace. If we do not give the people positive signals, and soon, that Iraq is getting better rapidly, and that they have hope, then the gunmen will start appearing and taking shots at U.S. military. Then the suicide bombers will appear.” “Mission Accomplished” May 1, 2003 Mission as defined, getting rid of regime, was accomplished

3. Looting In the days after Saddam’s regime fell vandalism swept over Baghdad Mobs of looters attacked government buildings incl. museum Took valuables and everything they could pry off walls and floors U.S. military couldn’t control or stop the looters Soldiers were waiting to go home Gave perception that U.S. didn’t know what to do next “It wasn’t like all hell broke loose. It was more like the situation eroded.” -Special Operations officer Sent message that we either didn’t care, or were incapable of acting Bad start to occupation Experts predict that Saddam’s supporters will move underground (take off uniforms and blend w/ the people) or move to Syria to wait and plana counterattack

4. The Occupation • Peacekeeping mission vs. war • Various leaders take various approaches • Cultural misunderstandings • Lack of soldiers and soldiers not properly trained/prepared for counterinsurgency • From liberators to occupiers

5. Fallujah Home to Baathist Party operatives Opposition assumed to be nonexistent by U.S. Patrols were seen as an insult to personal dignity, core value in Iraqi culture April 28 (Saddam’s b-day) 82nd Airborne Division is attacked w/ grenade, they shot civilians the next day Leads to fighting for years to come 5 different units in 1 year…led to mistrust of U.S.

6. Tikrit Saddam’s hometown Marine’s handed city over to Army Marine’s considered the area peaceful Had established relations with local tribal leaders Area was self-governing, businesses operating Trust and mutual respect established Army came in very aggressively, used intimidation w/ weapons Army officials refuse to attend meeting with local leaders Situation deteriorates under Army control

7. Search for WMDs No WMDs ever found Stockpiles of conventional weapons did exist Military didn’t bomb bunkers full of conventional weapons for fear that they contained WMDs Insurgents armed themselves w/ these weapons Search for WMDs pulled valuable people away from other areas of war

8. Unemployment and Instability Iraqi military provided structure, discipline & credibility in Iraq U.S. strongly advised to keep military and use them as aid to Coalition Forces Could be used to maintain order, suppress militias, put an Iraqi face on security and reconstruction Bremer replaces Garner, disbands Iraqi army & national police force upon arrival Leaves 300,000-400,000 unemployed, angry, humiliated men Also fires former Baathist Party members from National Ministries as part of de-Baathification policy Garner shut down state-run industries, aim at free-market economy

9. The Insurgency 3 needs of insurgencies: arms, finances, recruits Arms – Provided in un-guarded weapons caches Finances – Coalition didn’t immediately control borders, allowed people to flee w/ money to Syria Recruits – unemployed military, police, and Baathist leaders

10. Isolating the U.S. Attacks on allies of U.S. effort – divide the coalition Iraqi security forces Red Crescent (Red Cross) Politicians United Nations- headquarters attacked by truck bomb, killed 22, wounded 70+ UN cut its staff from 800 to 15 in Iraq UN had acted has bridge between Americans and some Iraqis Other international organizations begin to pull out, the World Bank, IMF, Oxfam

11. The IED Inexpensive, low-tech Number one threat to U.S. soldiers Hardwired at first, soldiers learned to follow wire to kill person on other side Within months most were remote-controlled using cell phone, car alarm transmitters, toy car controllers 155 mil. Artillery shells, TNT, mortar rounds, plastic explosives Hidden in piles of trash, dead dogs, stalled out trucks or busses forcing convoys to stop Soldiers spied on spots and used snipers to kill IED planters

12. IEDs Cont. • Solders trained to stop 200ft short when IED was spotted • Started planting IED in open, then hid more up the road where troops would stop • Planted them in tree branches • Car bombs- vehicle-borne IEDs • IED cells: 6-8 people, planner/financer, bomb maker, planter, triggerman, security, cameraman – propaganda • Reactive, armored vehicles, jamming frequencies • Made soldiers scared of operating around the people

13. The Green Zone Section of Baghdad including CPA and government headquarters CPA- Coalition Provisional Authority “Never-never land” “Oz” behind walls of Saddam’s old palace complex Isolated from chaos in rest of country New York area code, houses with hot tubs and maids, high school lunch room food Gym and drinking only nightlife Home to 7,000 or so Drove wedge between occupation authority and Iraqi people

14. Abu Ghraib Oct-Dec 2003 Large numbers of detainees picked up in security “sweeps” leads to overcrowding Not enough troops to manage prisons Prisoner abuses Inexperience of soldiers Tarnished U.S. effort in Iraq Violation of Geneva Conventions Internet photos & international reaction