Applications of Realism: The Invasion of Iraq From the U.S. Perspective
Applications of Realism: The Invasion of Iraq From the U.S. Perspective
Evan J. Ersing
Recitation Block P: Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30
Word Count: 3790
The United States ' invasion of Iraq has commonly become associated with the threat of Iraqi possession of weapons of mass destruction. This idea has since been generally accepted as a falsified reason for invasion which the Bush Administration conjured up in order to gain approval and public support in favor of the invasion. However, hindsight always appears clearer than does the present moment, and the fact that there was no evidence uncovered in support of the accusation of possession of nuclear weapons, does not immediately allow for the conclusion of an unjustified invasion. A portion of classical realist theory states that the international system is anarchic, and that individual states seek to maximize their security[1]. This initial segment of realist theory provides some understanding as to the necessity for President Bush 's swift action. The blame for the alleged misjudged invasion cannot be fully placed on the shoulders of the presidential administration without first conducting a rational investigation of the facts. The threat of violence and the recurrent use of force are the factors which separate international from national affairs, and at any moment a state may exert its force on another state[2]. On reflection of this statement, the reality of the possibility of a nuclear terrorist attack can be realized, and then, possibly the invasion may seem reasonable. Through the observation and understanding of classical realist theory, a rationalization can be applied to the different possible decisions surrounding the United States ' invasion of Iraq. Currently this invasion has been widely concluded to be a mistake; however, this conclusion must not be drawn without a rational examination of the surrounding factors that contributed to the
Evan J. Ersing
Recitation Block P: Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30
Word Count: 3790
The United States ' invasion of Iraq has commonly become associated with the threat of Iraqi possession of weapons of mass destruction. This idea has since been generally accepted as a falsified reason for invasion which the Bush Administration conjured up in order to gain approval and public support in favor of the invasion. However, hindsight always appears clearer than does the present moment, and the fact that there was no evidence uncovered in support of the accusation of possession of nuclear weapons, does not immediately allow for the conclusion of an unjustified invasion. A portion of classical realist theory states that the international system is anarchic, and that individual states seek to maximize their security[1]. This initial segment of realist theory provides some understanding as to the necessity for President Bush 's swift action. The blame for the alleged misjudged invasion cannot be fully placed on the shoulders of the presidential administration without first conducting a rational investigation of the facts. The threat of violence and the recurrent use of force are the factors which separate international from national affairs, and at any moment a state may exert its force on another state[2]. On reflection of this statement, the reality of the possibility of a nuclear terrorist attack can be realized, and then, possibly the invasion may seem reasonable. Through the observation and understanding of classical realist theory, a rationalization can be applied to the different possible decisions surrounding the United States ' invasion of Iraq. Currently this invasion has been widely concluded to be a mistake; however, this conclusion must not be drawn without a rational examination of the surrounding factors that contributed to the
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