The Scary Not-So-Winding Road from Iraq to Ukraine

BY: Medea Benjamin & Nicolas J.S. Davies

US and UK invaded Iraq 20 years ago, still affects Iraq and influences how Global South views Ukraine crisis.

[{"selector":"#anim-6190ca00-5cca-455d-b444-388518f2e16b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b85745d-1b30-408e-ac4b-bc1a39c64b98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 121.20117%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e82761c-4045-4618-8501-8f892d42f38a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.8106926678135166%, -0.913149135338171%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

49 countries supported Iraq invasion, only 4 sent troops. Disastrous interventions taught nations not to join US-led coalitions.

[{"selector":"#anim-14bb88ec-0951-44ac-bdc9-2a5c67e19663 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.3006772903835846%, 0.1521918443421885%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-141235e4-f563-4a45-9cc6-046197be69c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9523218e-8f59-4a01-a225-617b9d1631b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.63826%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Global South rejects US requests for weapons to Ukraine, urges diplomacy to avoid full-scale conflict and nuclear war.

[{"selector":"#anim-eac6af86-0f5f-4141-ab90-5db61e7a748e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26a19810-a323-47a9-bf1b-c59730d86d4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68807ed9-e4af-4d55-8da6-9481fb4ea45f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.18357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

PNAC architects wanted to use US military superiority to perpetuate global power in the 21st century through Iraq invasion.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d48b082-c5e2-4ee9-8074-421228d1bfd9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aa10572-d1c8-45cb-9277-51d8a2656be4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ced3fb2-facb-4708-b4a8-339e3b86c49b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 120.37037%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Iraq invasion showcased US "full spectrum dominance", criticized as "21st century American imperialism" by Senator Kennedy.

[{"selector":"#anim-e7008745-1598-47d1-a96e-98a0cb70a236 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-931c692f-742e-492c-8509-5ae88ff43f3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e29e940b-cd26-4b61-9f6d-6d2a8c77ba6e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 120.37037%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Kennedy was right, neocons wrong. US military aggression overthrew Saddam Hussein but failed to impose a stable new order.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a13f06e-df7e-45b5-b189-75c46c63a9c1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2177f97b-cc95-48ed-aabe-024dcc354696","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4653bb0-10e1-48a6-922e-1103963b347f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.63826%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Global South and China offer alternative economic development, as US focuses on military spending, illegal wars, and neocolonialism.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f31e3f5-2a95-495d-9b40-697bc22e76bd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cefb5db9-9432-438a-b8f4-764c722b3bd9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d1da1fc-804d-4b85-818e-95f0c600403c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.63826%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Neocons' regime-change strategy succeeded in the US, as they cling to power and poisoned both Democratic and Republican administrations.

[{"selector":"#anim-9307873f-76d1-44b7-9cf4-e93772411aee [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fe20026-c876-4187-9253-5dd054a01eaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-638a67a0-13dc-4326-8c83-8f0243b18fee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.82956%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-ae2c6b4a-04fb-4ec2-a395-7ab2af6a3232","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]