Hardt, JanMaxey, Mike2020-07-132020-07-132015(AlmaMMSId)9982436281402196https://hdl.handle.net/11244/325224The George W. Bush administration invaded Iraq in 2003, capitalizing on the public fear and paranoia generated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In arguing for war, the Bush administration utilized flawed and biased intelligence reports to frame the United States' position towards Iraq. Bush and his advisers employed deception to influence public opinion regarding the war. They also labored under the illusion that their efforts would achieve significant payoffs. Factors that contributed to their decisions included: Neo-conservatism, American exceptionalism, the military-industrial complex, and groupthink. The ultimate aim of the administration was to control Iraqi oil following the removal of Saddam Hussein from power and in so doing promote American expansion through the use of military force.All rights reserved by the author, who has granted UCO Chambers Library the non-exclusive right to share this material in its online repositories. Contact UCO Chambers Library's Digital Initiatives Working Group at diwg@uco.edu for the permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of this material.Iraq War, 2003-2011War on Terrorism, 2001-2009Military history, ModernConservatismAcademic thesesAmerican ExceptionalismBushIraqMilitary Industrial ComplexNeoconservatismOil(OCoLC)ocn944243564