Events in Iraq

United States officials advanced their position for war with Iraq as a clear case of national security.

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) located in Iraq were a threat to the United States; if not through direct military conflict, then through asymmetric terrorist action.

The Bush administration maintained that toppling Saddam's regime was the only viable method to prevent terrorist organizations from acquiring Iraqi WMDs or WMD technology.

Nevermind that the administration presented no positive, credible evidence that such weapons actually existed, nor offered any reason why an invasion would prevent the movement of WMDs or WMD technology to terrorist groups. This was their reasoning, and had to be accepted at face value. For the sake of this essay I will accept their claim.

When critics blasted administration motives for war, saying US policy was based on securing oil supplies for US consumption, the reaction from officials was intense. Iraq's vast oil reserves, they...