2000 words + bibliography
Discuss the main causes of the Third Gulf War in 2003

Intro: 200 words

Main: 1600 words

Conclusion: 200 words

Topics to be looked at:

–    9/11
–    Bushs rogue state theory
–    WMD
–    Lobbying by prominent Iraqi exiles to Washington
–    Iraqs vast oil reserves stability of oil flow
–    Neo conservative political thought and influence
–    Democracy a virtue believe in the exportation liberal values
–    Geopolitical importance proximity to Iran
–    Military-industrial complex
–    Deterrence
–    Realism
–    Axis of evil Rogue state theory
–    Political aims/motives
–    A visible enemy
–    The domino effect
–    Wilsonianism
–    The desire to spread democracy
–    Post 9/11 security environment
–    George Bushs destiny 
–    New world order
–    Ahmed Chalabi
–    Offensive realism
–    Securitization theory
–    The Bush doctrine

Main causes:

–    9/11
o    Many argue that if not for 9/11, the invasion would be unthinkable
o    Fear in the U.S
o    Maintain unipolarity and hegemony
o    The need for a visible enemy
o    The need for deterrence
–    Intense lobbying
o    Mearsheimer & Walt argue the Iraq war would not have been possible without Israel
o    Prove how influential this was on foreign policy in the Middle East
o    Americas Military industrial complex 
o    Hawkish element in the Bush administration
o    Ahmed Chalabi
–    Realist theory, neoconservatism, anarchic international system,
o    Political motives and interests
o    Security dilemma
o    The need to establish control in the middle east
o    Invading Iraq would solve a many number of problems/threats the U.S. faced
o    A vision of regime change
o    Offensive realism

Essential reading list:
–    One War, Many Reasons: The US Invasion of Iraq Written by Markus Nikolas Heinrich
–    (John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt) Chapter 8
–    The “Israel Lobby” and American Politics – Author(s): Robert C. Lieberman Source: Perspectives on Politics, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Jun., 2009), pp. 235-257
–    Chapter Title: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq, 2003 – Book Author(s): David C. Gompert, Hans Binnendijk and Bonny Lin
–    The Iraqi Diaspora and the US Invasion of Iraq Walt Vanderbush chapter 9
–    Chapter Title: The Push for War – Making the World Safe for Capitalism – Christopher Doran – 2012
–    Perceiving Rogue States: The Use of the “Rogue State” Concept by U.S. Foreign Policy Elites – K. P. O’Reilly
–    Rogue states and territorial disputes Author(s): Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and Peter F. Trumbore

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