Home / War and Conflict / Iraq War: 15 Years On, Veterans Reflect on Shocking Conflict
Iraq War: 15 Years On, Veterans Reflect on Shocking Conflict
20 May
Summary
- Veterans recount facing insurgency, not conventional warfare, as a shock.
- Doubts arise about the war's achievement and the necessity of sacrifices.
- Initial allied forces met less resistance than anticipated during the invasion.
Fifteen years have passed since the end of combat operations in Iraq, prompting reflections from those who served. Veterans are commemorating the anniversary, with services planned to honor their service.
Soldiers recall being unprepared for the realities of fighting an insurgency, where identifying enemies was complicated by the absence of uniforms. This type of warfare contrasted sharply with expectations, leading to profound disillusionment for some.
The war's stated objective, the discovery of weapons of mass destruction, has been a point of contention, as none were ever found. Veterans express heartbreak over personal struggles with mental health, like PTSD, and the loss of lives for a cause they now deem unachieved.
Initial military movements into Iraq saw less intense opposition than anticipated. However, the subsequent years of insurgency were not broadly foreseen. Some soldiers, like Dominic Conway, believe the intervention was justified to protect vulnerable populations from Saddam Hussein's regime, despite political justifications being unclear at the time.
