US Still Has Lessons To Learn From Its Misguided War In Iraq

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 20 March 2023

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It's been twenty years since the U.S. launched a war in Iraq — a conflict justified by faulty intelligence. More than 4000 Americans died along with tens of thousands of Iraqis. The war undermined Americans' trust in government and further highlighted the inability of the U.S. government to export democracy by way of regime change.

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and international correspondent Deb Amos.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It is edited by Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Research and fact-checking by Devin Speak.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages
0:06.4	of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from
0:12.4	grave danger.
0:14.4	On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to
0:20.3	undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war.
0:24.4	These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.
0:29.2	Twenty years ago, President George W. Bush announced the beginning of the war in Iraq,
0:34.4	with a speech to the nation from the Oval Office.
0:37.2	And today, on the NPR Politics Podcast, we'll get into why the U.S. started that war,
0:42.0	and its long shadow into the present.
0:44.8	I'm Asma Khaled, I cover the White House.
0:46.8	It's 1 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, March 20, 2023.
0:52.0	And I'm joined by NPR National Political Correspondent Marlaison and our International
0:56.4	Correspondent Deb Amos.
0:57.4	Hey there.
0:58.4	I am very excited to speak with both of you all.
1:01.0	Hi there.
1:02.0	Great to be here.
1:03.0	So, let's begin with the basics, because I think there is a lot to be learned from how
1:07.8	the United States found its way into this war.
1:11.2	And Deb, what led up to the U.S. bombing campaign?
1:14.9	You know, I've spent a lot of time reading over all the 20th anniversary coverage, and I
	...

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