Leader: Iraq invasion exacted too high a price

IT STARTED with shock and awe. It was intended to end to terrorism and bring stability. The United States’ invasion of Iraq was a defining moment in world politics and its impact will be felt long into the future.

So as the flag of the American forces was lowered for the last time in this benighted country, the symbolic representation of the withdrawal of troops, which will be complete by the end of the year, it is a good time to look at the heavy price that has been paid for the war ordered by president George W Bush, supported by Tony Blair.

Cold statistics tell part of the story. A total of 4,487 US troops have died, along with 179 UK service men and women. The lowest estimate of civilian deaths is a chilling 97,461, the highest an incomprehensible 654,965. The financial cost of the war is put at $802 billion (£517bn) to the US government and £9.24bn to the UK government.

However, the cost in deaths, dollars and pounds, shocking as those figures are, is only part of the legacy of the Iraq conflict. Equally troubling is the fact that whatever politicians, including President Obama, may say there is little evidence the country is in any more stable a state than when it was invaded.

Yes, the evil dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled but the new civilian government is weak and divided, faced with fears that divisions between Sunni and Shia will flare as soon as the US leaves. Neighbouring Iran is a menacing presence. And the threat of terrorism? Far from being diminished, it has increased.

The obvious questions are these: was shock and awe worth it? Did it achieve its objectives? There is an obvious answer: no it was not. And no it did not.