GPS 136 Lecture 03-11-08 - 9/11 19 people using box cutters murdered about 3000 civilians The US became a preemptive country for the first time Was

March 11, 2008 9/11 • 19 people using box cutters murdered about 3000 civilians • The US became a preemptive country for the first time • Was Saddam a threat to the US? No • US had been attacking his infrastructure since 1991 • • 2003 invasions of Iraq became a war of choice • No country that started a war in the 20 century emerged a winner; WWI, WWII, Korea, Invasion of Israel in 1948, Iran/ Iraq war. No one who attacked first emerged a war. • Except when Israel attacked Egypt • Protracted small scale conflicts • War on terror, war without boundaries or limits • 20 th century wars had boundaries, 21 century wars • March 2003, Invasion of Iraq The personality of leaders • The Iranians war trying to expand the revolution, Saddam completely misunderstood Iran • Saddam, a lover of war • The war untied the Iranian people, Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis • US didn’t think of themselves as invaders • US underestimated the ability of people to turn against invaders •