Two decades after U.S.-led coalition forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 20, 2003, a new three-part documentary series examines the enduring human cost of the conflict. ‘The Legacy of War: Iraq 20 Years On’ chronicles Iraqi experiences through personal narratives and socioeconomic data, questioning whether the promises of democracy and stability materialized for the war-torn nation.
Over 300,000 Iraqi civilians are estimated to have died in conflict-related violence since 2003, with millions displaced. While Saddam Hussein’s regime fell within weeks, the country soon faced insurgencies, sectarian violence, and the rise of ISIS. Today, Iraq ranks 157th in global democracy indices, with protests over unemployment and corruption erupting regularly.
The documentary highlights contrasting perspectives: young Baghdad entrepreneurs building tech startups amid chronic power shortages, mothers mourning disappeared relatives, and analysts debating whether Iraq’s $15 billion oil revenues could forge a sustainable future. CGTN’s footage shows rebuilt landmarks in Mosul standing alongside neighborhoods still littered with wartime debris.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
