Abstract:
The Gulf War was projected as a liberal war –
waged as a necessary war – in order to remove a
tyrant, eliminate terrorism and promote democracy
and liberal economic reforms in Iraq. Since then,
despite a series of elections and efforts to introduce
liberal economic reforms, the country continues to
experience political destabilisation and sectarian
conflicts. This has culminated in the rise of militant
organisations which includes the Islamic State (IS).
At the same time, the United States‟ (US) global
strategy appears to be undergoing a transformation
with evolving ideological discourses seeking to
justify a new war against the IS. As a consequence,
its Grand Strategy is experiencing modernisation
and transformation in warfare, complimented by the
growing influence of global corporate organisations
on military planning and policymaking. This article
presents an analysis of these trends in the
perspective of Iraq, and contributes to the broader
understanding of US foreign policy towards the
Middle East.
