Power Vacuum and Collapse of Order in Iraq Flashcards

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What is meant by a "power vacuum" in Iraq after the 2003 invasion?

It was when Saddam’s government had fallen and there was no strong new authority to control the country.

What happened to Saddam Hussein’s government during the 2003 invasion of Iraq?

It collapsed very quickly. Saddam and his top officials fled and the old state stopped working.

What was the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) set up to do in Iraq?

It was a temporary US‑led body that ran Iraq after the invasion until an Iraqi government could be created.

What was the policy of "de‑Baathification" in Iraq?

It removed members of Saddam’s Baath Party from jobs in government, the army and the police, leaving many offices without experienced staff.

How did sacking the whole Iraqi army in 2003 help create a power vacuum?

Hundreds of thousands of trained soldiers lost their jobs and pay, and Iraq was left without its main security force.

Why was there so much looting and crime in Iraqi cities just after the invasion?

The police and army had disappeared, and there were too few coalition troops to protect banks, shops and museums.

How did the collapse of basic services show the breakdown of order in Iraq?

Frequent power cuts, unsafe water supplies and closed hospitals showed that the state could not provide for people’s basic needs.

Which groups began to fill the gap left by the weak central government in Iraq?

Local militias, religious leaders and tribal leaders took control of some areas and set up their own checkpoints and rules.

How did poor control of Iraq’s borders add to the collapse of order?

It became easier for weapons and foreign fighters to enter Iraq, which made the country less stable and harder to control.

How did the power vacuum affect how many Iraqis saw the US and UK forces?

Many Iraqis blamed them for failing to keep law and order, so trust in the occupying forces fell.

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