The United States and The Democratization of Iraq After Sept.11: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

The issue of reformation in the Middle East has gained great importance; rather it was the most prominent in the international and regional arena since the events of September 2001 where US linked terrorism to the absence of democracy in the Middle East. Before those events, the United States policy towards the region had not changed since World War II, which was to maintain its interests in the Middle East based on the traditional strategy. The main objective of this strategy was to maintain the status quo in the region. After the events of September 2001, US foreign has witnessed a radical shift especially when George W. Bush reached the White House and surrounded himself with Neo-Conservatives , who have imposed their effect on the institutions of the Presidency, Foreign Affairs and Defense. Hence, these events showed the impact of these leagues on the US foreign policy, and their ability to formulate its priorities and orientations. These events have played a key role in providing the Neo-Conservative agenda, as a ready plan for the immediate response to the terrorist attacks, which the United States launched. Following these events, the US deployed its extensive military mobilization campaign to support its choices in pre-emptive war. As a tool of full control, the US strategized by rearranging the Middle East and the Gulf, and achieving the imperial ambition, which are the same goals that were expressed by the Neo-Conservatives in their vision of the US role to lead the world through military superiority. Accordingly, the features which Iraq enjoyed made it on the top concerns of the international strategies - in particular the US, which considered it the most important areas in the world for its vital interests. Hence, the US perceptions was that the occupation of Iraq and changing it, according to the American vision, was the starting point for the implementation of the US moving towards the Arab region.