Why is the war in Iraq called "the war in Iraq"?

Question

This is a sincere question. Please leave politics out of this.

The actual war ended in 2003 with the collapse of the Iraqi government. The currently ongoing conflict has none of the hallmarks of a war. We are not fighting open battles and are not at war with a government. It has all the hallmarks of an occupation (terrorist acts, collaboration with a new government, etc.). Such has happened countless times in the past.

Why do people keep calling it a war?

As of 2007.

Amazing level of discourse tonight. Do you even read the question?

@Judy: ~150 people die on american roads every single day. You don't call that a war, either.

Answer 1

It's an occupation. the Iraq war ended with the election of the Iraq government. It's now the Iraqi Civil War but nobody will admit that.

Answer 2

Article VI (2): This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding. You did not take into consideration that the UN did not exist in Adams, Jefferson's and Madison's time. Let me know if you can find a single treaty any of those great Presidents violated - I sure can't find one. Treatment of preemption principles and standards is set out under the commerce clause, which is the greatest source of preemptive authority. The nullity of an act, inconsistent with the Constitution, is produced by the declaration that the Constitution is the supreme law. The appropriate application of that part of the clause which confers the same supremacy on laws and treaties. In other words, Congress would have had to pass a law specifically stating that the invasion of Iraq was a sovereign issue which superceded the UN Charter. As it is, technically, the US is in violation of the UN Charter, therefore has violated one of its international treaties, and therefore is in breach of Constitutional and international law. If you want me to expand and start citing Supreme Court precedents and decisions, I will be happy to oblige.

Answer 3

This is a unique situation for us, as we are not fighting an organized, uniformed enemy, who fights under one leader. We are fighting various terrorist cells, and pretty much every crazy radical with an AK47 and some explosives that has a bone to pick with the USA. In the past our enemy was usually uniformed or at least pledged allegiance to one nation or organization. This is not so today but as we are still engaged in heavy, long-term combat for the promotion of one cause, ending or severely crippling terrorism and terrorist cells, we call this war the War on Terror. When we speak of a specific country where we are engaged we say "The war in Iraq" or "The war in Afghanistan." This is my take on the subject anyway. I'm just glad the fighting is overseas and not in my backyard.

Answer 4

It is still a war though not the war against the Saddam led government of Iraq. It is now in support of the democratic government of Iraq.

It is still in Iraq, though the terrorists are often not Iraqi.

Conventional wars, i.e. military versus military, are just one type of war. Unconventional wars include military and police forces against guerillas or in this case terrorists.

While our own losses are small, the Iraqis are taking rather heavy losses and the terrorists are taking heavy losses. We are still engaging the enemy, albeit a different enemy than the one we were originally fighting.

Answer 5

It's called Operation Iraqi Freedom, not the war in Iraq. People keep calling it a war because people are still being killed and people got really ticked about calling Vietnam a "conflict" and Korea a "Police Action".

Answer 6

because this war is not against Iraq or Iraqis(us) and it's not an occupation war, it's called (the war in Iraq) cause we are as Iraqis are fighting with the troops against the terrorists who came from (Iran, Syria.., Saderists.... oh )

Answer 7

I guess a more proper name might be the "War against insurgency in Iraq." But by using that name newspapers, liberals, etc would have to acknowledge that we do have a legitimate purpose there. Military units still conduct operations, bombs still go boom and people still die. It is by any name still a war. Please enlighten us as to the "countless times in the past" it happened. I vaguely recall something about my professors in college requiring us to support statements with facts.

Answer 8

People are fighting, and its a mess over there. There is a war going on between the Sunnis ans Shites.

Answer 9

We can't call it just "the war" because the war in Afghanistan is also still continuing

Answer 10

Well it could be called "The occupation of Iraq", but obiously some people don't want to call it what it is.