Five years on, still horrors of war in Iraq

Several weeks into the US-led attack on Iraq in 2003, US President George W. Bush stood in front of a banner which stated: "Mission Accomplished". He told sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended".

Five years on, the picture looks very different. Not only was the initial invasion poorly planned and costly, the post-attack strategy was horrifically mismanaged.

The attack on Iraq demonstrated an arrogance which has had a deep impact globally. By all standards, it was unjustifiable. Based on lies, the war was carried out according to US and UK interpretation of international law.

It isolated America from most allies, weakened its economy and damaged America's image. More importantly, it brought Iraq destruction, terror, occupation, oppression, instability and fear. The meaning of security was wiped off and instead, the notion of sectarianism grew - even beyond Iraq.

We see today a divide and rule policy applied in Iraq, with the Bush administration supporting both the Shiites (in the form of the government) and Sunnis (in the form of militias).

Ultimately, Iraqis have paid the highest price with thousands losing their lives or being injured and displaced. Suicide bombings have become synonymous with daily news from Iraq.

Ironically, the Bush administration continues to defend its decision to launch the war. A recent "calm" in Iraq is due to a combination of factors but the fact remains, the next US president is likely to take office with more than 100,000 troops still in Iraq.

Any improvements discussed by Bush today do not change the fact that Iraqis continue to suffer from this war. Five years on, the war-torn country faces the same horrors inflicted upon it in 2003. The Iraq war will haunt future generations.