5. EFFECTS: The protraction of the Iraq War

Key Question that is guiding this Inquiry:

What motivated the United States to invade Iraq in 2003, and was it in their national interest?

As you travel through this inquiry you will be presented with FOUR POSSIBLE CAUSES of the Iraq War:

• Neo-conservatism; 
• 9/11 (and the War on Terror); 
• Weapons of Mass Destruction; and 
• US oil interests. 

Backchannel on TodaysMeet: CLICK HERE

------------------------------------------------------------------

SUB-QUESTION 5: What caused the war to continue for so long? Why couldn't the US just leave it to the Iraqis after Saddam was gone?

ACTIVITY 1: Timeline activity 

1. Read through the following interactive timeline and choose FIVE dates/events that you think are significant in prolonging the war. 
2. Share your FIVE on the Comment Forum below with a reason why you think they are significant - try to be persuasive!

TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:  CLICK HERE 

ACTIVITY 2: 2013 BBC Documentary 'The Iraq War - Ep.2 After the Fall'

1.  Collaboratively respond to the following questions as you watch the second episode of the film  'Iraq War: After the Fall'.

• The link to the online version (Full Shambles Site) can be found HERE
• You can also download the questions in Word format HERE

2. We will discuss your responses via a class discussion afterwards; this will deepen your understanding, allow you to expand on your responses in preparation for writing a paragraph that addresses the second  question in the comment forum below.

ACTIVITY 3: REFLECTION - Attitudinal scale on the concept of a 'cosmic war'

In his book 'How to Win a Cosmic War' the author Reza Aslan argues against a 'war on terror' for a reason that seems a little unorthodox to say the least. He says that it means fighting jihadists on their own ground rather than the West choosing the battlefield in its own time and its own way. Reza Aslan is an associate professor at the University of California. Aslan believes we are fighting what he terms as a cosmic war, and that we need to reassess the way in which the West addresses its approach to fundamental Islamic terrorism.

Listen to the interviews below with the author - one with Tony Jones (video - 58min.)and the other with Mark Colvin of the ABC PM broadcast (podcast & Transcript-6min.)- and decide where you stand on an attitudinal scale over the following points: 
1. to what extent you agree with Reza Aslan's conceptualization of a 'cosmic war' ; and 
2. whether this should have informed the West's approach to a 'war on terror' after 9/11, and currently against the 'Islamist' motives of ISIS/

PODCAST FROM ABC PM PROGRAM MAY 18, 2010: CLICK HERE
TRANSCRIPT OF THE SAME INTERVIEW: CLICK HERE

 ______________________________________________________________