The radical motives for the american invasion of iraq: Political ideology, economic reality, and cultural philosophy

This chapter deals with three separate but interrelated factors that propelled the American-led invasion of Iraq, namely political ideology, economic reality and cultural philosophy. It is suggested that all three of these be combined to provide justification for the invasion. Various dilemmas and related issues which complicate the “democratization” of Iraq are discussed. The Iraqi population, governmental institutions, and the characteristics of the Iraqi culture all pose potential barriers to the establishment of a western-style democracy in Iraq. The communication patterns of America and the allies in the Iraq war are analyzed in terms of Berne’s (1961, 1990) Transactional Analysis theory. Overall, the interaction prototypes leading up to the Iraq war were typical of a “Critical Parent” ego state which interfered with an “Adult” ego state style of communication model.