Question 1

Operation Iraqi Freedom ended with President Bush's declaration on 1 May 2003.

Accepted Answer

Operation Iraqi Freedom technically lasted until December 2011, when the last American troops withdrew from Iraq. President Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq on May 1, 2003, but the conflict continued for several years afterwards.

Question 2

The largest fundamental problem for the military in the War on Terror has been:

Accepted Answer

One of the biggest issues facing the military in the War on Terror has been the lack of troops available. The conflict has been prolonged and spread across multiple regions, which has put a strain on the military's resources. The military has had to rely heavily on National Guard and Reserve troops, who often do not have the same level of training and experience as active duty troops. Additionally, the high number of deployments and extended tours of duty has put a strain on soldiers and their families, leading to issues with morale and retention. Ultimately, the lack of troops has made it difficult for the military to achieve its objectives and has prolonged the conflict.

Question 3

In the future of warfare, the media will be of greater strategic importance to the outcome of the war than ever before.

Accepted Answer

With the rise of social media and online news platforms, controlling the narrative and winning the support of the public through the media can have a significant impact on the success of a military campaign.

Question 4

The American media remained unbiased and provided exceptional investigative reporting months before Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Accepted Answer

The American media did not remain fully unbiased, as many news outlets promoted the Bush administration's claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq without thoroughly fact-checking them. Additionally, some journalists were embedded with U.S. military units during the invasion, which raised questions about their objectivity. However, there were also examples of exceptional investigative reporting, such as the series of articles by the New York Times' Judith Miller and Michael Gordon that contributed to the WMD narrative but also raised questions about faulty intelligence.

Question 5

Which of the following was a critical mistake made by Ambassador Paul Bremer?

Accepted Answer

All three choices were critical mistakes made by Ambassador Paul Bremer in Iraq. Removing the Iraqi bureaucracy dismantled the country's administrative framework and left it vulnerable to chaos. Dissolving the Iraqi Army left thousands of soldiers without an income and created a large group of disgruntled, potentially dangerous, individuals. Refusing to put Iraqis in local levels of government impaired the country's ability to take ownership of its post-war rebuilding process.

Question 6

The capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 resolved most of the problems encountered by American troops.

Accepted Answer

The capture of Saddam Hussein did not resolve all the problems encountered by American troops in Iraq. The insurgency continued and the country remained unstable.

Question 7

Historically, the U.S. has been a force for democracy in the Middle East.

Accepted Answer

Historically, the U.S. has often supported authoritarian regimes in the Middle East when it has suited its strategic interests, rather than consistently promoting democracy.

Question 8

Who took control of the Multi-National Force-Iraq on 27 January 2007 and immediately began employing new COIN doctrine?

Accepted Answer

General David Petraeus took control of the Multi-National Force-Iraq on 27 January 2007 and immediately began employing new COIN (Counterinsurgency) doctrine, which included a focus on protecting the population, partnering with local security forces, and conducting targeted operations against insurgent leaders. This approach became known as the "Surge" strategy, and was credited with significantly reducing levels of violence and stabilizing the security situation in Iraq.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about Counterinsurgency (COIN) is false?

Accepted Answer

COIN operations often involve a range of non-military measures, such as political, economic, and social initiatives. These initiatives are often carried out by organizations outside the military realm, such as government agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors. Therefore, help outside the military realm is often required for successful COIN operations.

Question 10

In 2003 the United States was prepared to fight an insurgency war.

Accepted Answer

In 2003, the United States was primarily prepared for conventional warfare and not fully equipped or strategically planned for the prolonged insurgency that unfolded in Iraq following the initial invasion.

Question 11

Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz were wrong about:

Accepted Answer

Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz were wrong about all of the above. They underestimated the number of forces required, overestimated the ease and speed of the war, and did not accurately predict the long-term nature and cost of the conflict.

Quiz 18: Operation Iraqi Freedom I the Conventional War 2003