The US-led coalition “shock and awe” bombing of Iraq, begun on March 19, 2003, was followed by a full-scale invasion. President George W. Bush’s “War on Terror” and the official reason for coalition military action was the claim that the Saddam Hussein Government was hiding weapons of mass destruction. This later proved to be false. Massive protests against the war continued with reports of huge civilian deaths in Iraq, the US use of torture and abuse, and the country’s covert use of “extraordinary rendition” worldwide.

© EFE