Criticism

The Bush Administration based its rationale for war principally on the assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and that Saddam's government posed an immediate threat to the United States and its coalition allies. Select US officials accused Saddam of harbouring and supporting al-Qaeda , while others cited the desire to end a repressive dictatorship and bring democracy to the people of Iraq. After the invasion, no substantial evidence was found to verify the initial claims about WMDs.

The rationale and misrepresentation of pre-war intelligence faced heavy criticism within the US and internationally.