Top International Relations Blunder of All Time

In 2003, the United States invaded, occupied and then attempted to restructure the country of Iraq. Four years later in 2007 more than 100,000 Americans still remain in Iraq with 21,000 more on the way. In the intervening years, thousands of Iraqi and American lives have been lost, thousands more have been substantially altered with few positive results achieved. For at least four reasons, the Bush administration has succeeded only in creating one of the top international relations blunders of all time.

1. Invasion without Information. A primary reason why American involvement in Iraq can be seen as the top international relations blunder of all time has to do with the pre-invasion intelligence that was used.

After the horror of 9/11, President Bush initiated a "War on Terror" throughout the world. Not only would the United Sates as a nation pursue those connected directly with the 9/11 disaster, we would extend our efforts to include any nations who appeared to harbor or give support to those planning terrorist attacks against the United States.

As a result of his expanded search President Bush received intelligence that indicated the presence of weapons of mass destruction ( WMD ) being held and developed under Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The President used the information as leverage to promote the invasion of Iraq. It also provided leverage for him to begin the top international relations blunder of all times. Time and fruitless searching has convinced most that there never were any weapons of mass destruction and that the United States had invaded the sovereign territory of an independent state without reason.

2. Acting without International Support. The United States was in such a frenzy to avenge the losses of 9/11 and to reestablish its world leadership position that it acted in haste, without solid intelligence and did so without the support of the international community.