How the American Invasion Shaped Iraq

  
On the 10 year anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq, the war that defined the start of the 21st century continues to exceed resolve for many Americans.
It was sparked by an attack in our country’s own backyard, but the war was quickly moved thousands of miles away.
Well over 1 million U.S. citizens served over the course of the decade-long conflict, where progress was often clouded by uncertainty and devastation. Ultimately, victory was declared, but for many, the ramifications of the Iraq War are still struggling to be understood, even after our troops have returned home.
Alon Ben-Meir  is an Iraqi-American and a professor of Middle Eastern Studies and conflict resolution at the  NYU Center for Global Affairs.