Mark Henderson answered
The United Kingdom participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq due to a number of factors-
The 2003 Iraq War Coalition
In total four countries contributed troops for the initial invasion of the country: The US, UK, Australia and Poland. A further 36 countries deployed soldiers for the occupation of Iraq following the toppling of Saddam's regime.
Invasion force numbers:
Controversy
The 2003 war in Iraq has gone down in history as a failure. Although the invasion was a success and a brutal dictator was removed from power, countless civillans have died in the aftermath of the conflict with the country almost in a state of civil war.
- The misson statement of the coalition was as follows: "To disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people."
- To uphold the alliance and "special relationship" with the United States of America.
- Western intelligence thought that Iraq had the capability to strike Britain within 45 minutes of Saddam ordering an attack. This was eventually proved to be false.
- Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair believed the faulty intelligence and supported his close friend and ally, George Bush, the then-President of the United States of America.
The 2003 Iraq War Coalition
In total four countries contributed troops for the initial invasion of the country: The US, UK, Australia and Poland. A further 36 countries deployed soldiers for the occupation of Iraq following the toppling of Saddam's regime.
Invasion force numbers:
- The United States of America: 148,000 troops.
- The United Kingdom: 45,000 troops.
- Australia: 2,000 troops.
- Poland: 194 troops.
Controversy
The 2003 war in Iraq has gone down in history as a failure. Although the invasion was a success and a brutal dictator was removed from power, countless civillans have died in the aftermath of the conflict with the country almost in a state of civil war.
- Senior members of the British Cabinet resigned over the legality of the war in Iraq.
- Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, said of the conflict, "I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter. From our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."
- Crucial intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were discovered to be false - no chemical, biological or nuclear devices were ever found.
