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The US invaded Iraq for a number of reasons. The main reason given was that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. However, this was not the true reason for the invasion.

If Iraq had possessed weapons of mass destruction, it is highly improbable that none would have been found during the invasion and subsequent occupation. In fact, if a dictator knew that his reign was about to end and he had nothing to lose, what would stop him from unleashing all of his weapons of mass destruction against his enemy and going down as a martyr?

The excuse that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were shipped to Syria is simply not credible. What country would want to risk angering the US by accepting weapons of mass destruction from Iraq? Furthermore, what country would even consider shipping weapons of mass destruction to another country? Another reason that this is not plausible is the fact that relations between Syria and Iraq are not particularly close. With the weapons inspectors going in and out of Iraq, the no-fly zone over much of Iraq and high-tech surveillance equipment available, it is clear that Saddam Hussein and his government were constantly being watched. Thus, the reason for the invasion of Iraq was not to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. This was merely a clever excuse to prepare the American public for the invasion.

A number of reasons can be given for the American invasion of Iraq. One obvious reason is oil. Iraq has a huge oil supply which is coveted by oil corporations. It is a fact that the increase in gas prices resulted in huge profits for those involved in the oil industry.

Another reason is the belief that a democratic Iraq would bring peace and stability to the Middle East. However, it is very difficult to encourage democracy with a people who have never had it. Two countries, Germany and Japan, did become democratic after World War Two, but their situations were very different from that of Iraq. Germany had been democratic in the past, so it was not difficult to revert to democracy. In the case of Japan, it was the aggressor in its battle with the US. In addition, its defeat by the US led the Japanese to question their political system and culture. Many Japanese were very open to democracy and to a western style of government. In Iraq, however, especially in the case of fundamentalist Islam, we still see great resistance to western culture.

Also a reason for the invasion of Iraq, a reason which many may not be aware of, was due to Israel. Former

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