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| FIVE YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ 20/03/2008 |
| (2008-03-20) |
| Last updated: 2008-03-21 17:13 EET |
March 20th, 2003! This will remain a landmark of the early 21st Century. This is when the famous “war in Iraq” started, waged by the USA in order to end a quarter of a century of brutal dictatorship imposed by Saddam Hussein. It's been five years since that date. A period which demands work, reports, analyses and scenarios. As for the increasingly often asked question, “Was it worth it?,” countless answers have been given. One of the answers was provided by the architect of the intervention, the planet's most powerful man, US president George W. Bush.
He stated that he did not regret his heavily challenged decision, and that the time would come when the Iraq invasion would be seen as “a major strategic victory.” He added that, in spite of the high toll paid over these five years, the Americans must carry on the fight against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, so as not to be forced to fight them in the United States.
The war which took the lives of close to 4,300 troops of the international coalition, of whom nearly 4,000 were Americans, has so far cost Washington approximately 500 billion US dollars. As for the Iraqis, they have paid the highest price. Beyond the shattered hopes, the disappointment and, more importantly, the unrest in the country, over 80 thousand civilians and about 12,000 police lost their lives. Moreover, according to the United Nations High Commissioner’s Office for Refugees, Iraqis continue to flee the country. In 2007 alone, the number of applications went up to nearly 350 thousand. Another two million people left for Syria and Jordan, while 2.5 million people moved within the country, in search for safer places to live in.
At present, an overall decrease in the level of violence has been noted. But economic development, which is the Iraqi's second-highest priority after security, is yet to be achieved. American troops have been involved for several months now in operations in northern Iraq, where groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda focus their efforts. Also worth noting is that Romania, which did not contribute troops in the invasion, deployed 500 troops later on, at the request of the United States.
President Traian Basescu has more than once stated that Bucharest's decision regarding the pull-out will be made together with NATO allies. So we know when it started, what the costs were, what the state of play is – but when will the war in Iraq end?
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2025-04-03
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