U.S. claims it refrains from using political violence in Iraq

In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq, resulting in the toppling of the existing government and the imposition of a new regime at gunpoint. This multi-year military operation left the country in a state of chaos and instability, prompting a discussion on the impact of U.S. tactics in the region. Despite the evident use of force and coercive measures during the invasion, the U.S. government maintains that it does not utilize "political violence" in its operations in Iraq, even as the nation continues to grapple with sectarian tensions and Iranian influence. The U.S. State Department's Iraq Familiarization Course, released under the Freedom of Information Act, includes a slide asserting that the U.S. refrains from using tactics such as bribery and political violence, contrasting it with the methods employed by Iran, which include forming sectarian militias and using threats to exert influence over the Iraqi government. This viewpoint is seen as part of a larger narrative that seemingly dismisses the implications of America's military interventions, leading analysts to question the understanding and acknowledgment of the consequences stemming from the Iraq War. Throughout the conflict, the U.S. employed various tactics that could be characterized as political violence. High-profile incidents include the assassination of Iraqi official Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, actions that further complicated the political landscape in Iraq. Additionally, bribery was a common practice; for example, U.S. special forces engaged in purchasing loyalty from local leaders by smuggling large sums of cash into Iraq prior to and during the invasion, which often resulted in only a select few benefiting from U.S. funding, while complicating local governance. The ramifications of the U.S. actions in Iraq persist to this day, with ongoing debates surrounding the stability and sovereignty of the Iraqi government. The findings from the State Department’s training materials suggest a disconnection between the narrative pushed by U.S. officials and the realities faced by Iraqis. As various militias continue to wield significant power, many argue that American leaders have yet to fully grasp the severity of their role in contributing to Iraq's turbulent political climate, raising important questions about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.